Canto 13

In an unmarked forest

big gnarled trees with barren branches

twist in pain in the dark.


in an unmarked forest big gnarled trees with barren branches twist in pain in the dark, dore woodcut --chaos 100

The crooked trees have wide wailing mouths

and the cracks in the bark

drip red sap from the men turned to thorns.


the crooked trees have wide wailing mouths and the cracks in the bark drip red sap from the men turned to thorns, painting by Hieronymus Bosch

One tree trunk spoke like this,

“A stranger with a set of keys has

unleashed myself on me.”


One tree trunk spoke like this, A stranger with a set of keys has unleashed myself on me. blue pen line drawing of a talking tree on lined paper --ar 2:3

Just then, two souls came barreling through

chased by ravenous trolls

who bound the sticks and thorns


just then, two souls came barreling through chased by ravenous leaping black trolls who bound the sticks and thorns, illuminated manuscript

I made my house into my gallows.

Canto 14