Doves in the Sweep of the Black Wind

A Modified Terza Rima in English Verse on the Punishment of Francesca and Paolo

Teacher, tell me, what souls are these punished in the sweep of the black wind?

- Dante Alighieri, Inferno, Canto V

Ary Scheffer, The Ghosts of Paolo and Francesca Appear to Dante and Virgil, 1835

To Steve Jeck (1964–2018), who was Virgil to me.

I beg your pardon, Master Jeck, so gracious and so kind,

I’ll ask you show me pity and unburden me from fines.

Some license for creative verse I’m seeking by this rhyme.

Albeit I’ve transgressed this one assignment’s requisition,

I trust upon your honor I’ll escape my sure perdition,

By demonstrating techne in poetic composition.

It just so happened midway in the journey of my life,

Dante’s Inferno showed me contrapasso is the price,

One pays in Hell for living unrepentant for his vice.

I followed both the poets while Virgil led the way,

From Limbo forth to Minos where sinners have their day;

Confessing all their sins to him his tail revealed their pay.

We journeyed through Hell’s torment rings, nine there were in all.

Each level debts were paid by sinners ruined by their fall;

But at the second circle, heard we blown spirits bawl.

Here warring winds in darkness raged swept from every side,

Driving lustful sinners back, who blasphemed as they cried;

Shades, whose bounded reason slept, their appetites untied.

There was Cleopatra see, who loved to see men lusting,

And Helen and Achilles whose woes were long years lasting,

But few can hold a candle for two Doves who left men gasping.