He pledges roses in a honeyed voice
but talk of rainbow in his speech deceives.
So lady dear, please run, you have a choice.
His promises infect you like disease
as fever of what’s possible abhors
but lure of words immobilize, you freeze.
Then slowly he can reel you in ashore
and when he has you by himself alone
the beast within will wake behind the door.
It’s late to now your destiny bemoan,
with hungry claws he pulls you into dance.
A hectic waltz around his cackling crones,
on ash of burning rainbows you must prance.
Then slowly you will join behind his force.
Into debase he modified romance.
Your feet will carry you on downward course,
that spirals into darkness down below.
See now he’s mounted on his ghastly horse.
With burning crown of iron he his bride bestows,
while soundless shrieks of pain are locked within
and in embrace of hell you’re set aglow.
While you lament the sight of melting skin,
you learned at rainbow’s end there weren’t no love
and ‘gainst the Lord of Darkness there’s no win.
Now you’re forgotten, lost to world above,
you could have listened and with me rejoiced
but now to me you’re lost, my turtur dove.

The Inferno, Canto 5, by Gustave Doré
This week in Trifecta I wrote a terza rima, a poetry written by Dante in his Divine Comedy. Thus the theme of hell. Hope you enjoy my pentameter. The connection to three is obvious I hope. The word of the week is rainbow in the meaning:
[from the impossibility of reaching the rainbow, at whose foot a pot of gold is said to be buried] : an illusory goal or hope –
Hope I have used it correctly this week.
—
September 16, 2013
Strong as each line appears!
Loved it… I liked how you justified the change in the persona of that man/beast. The image of hell is well created. 🙂
This must have been really difficult to write, but the result is stellar!
It took a little while 🙂 but Dante wrote 6000 lines or so
Really enjoyed this. Way to step up to the challenge!
I really like this poetry form, and you wrote a very powerful verse.
I don’t even know what to say but as usual I love it. I am never disappointed by anything I see come up with your name. But this one really just captured my heart. It is so lovely and strong. Wonderful as always 🙂
This is an impressive piece of writing.
Wow! This is quite lovely and dark; a beautiful take on the prompt. I can imagine it was difficult to write. 😀
Fabulous response to the prompt…and I’m fairly certain you used it correctly 🙂
“With burning crown of iron he his bride bestows,”
Bjorn, you might want to correct above line. Your piece interesting; a real contrast between the Lord of Darkness and the Rainbow…
You are an excellent poet, Bjorn. I salute you, yet again! I hadn’t come across this style before – I really like it!
I like how it starts out with his sweet lies, but his true self is revealed at the end. Unfortunate, she fell for it, though.
What a wonderfully visceral, tactile, thick piece of poetry. Especially these four lines for me:
It’s late to now your destiny bemoan,
with hungry claws he pulls you into dance.
A hectic waltz around his cackling crones,
on ash of burning rainbows you must prance.
Very cool. I love it.
Such an ambitious response to the prompt, Bjorn! Hats off to you for pulling it off. The claws and the beast and the dance are all so lyrical and yet so visual for me. This plays out like a film. Thanks for linking up.
Definitely captures the feel of Inferno. Love the hectic waltz!
Haunting, dark and beautiful piece. Well done!
Intense…you put a lot of thinking into your words.
Loved each word-lyrical and very powerful-drew me in-I even read it out to my daughter Sam:-)