Whenever I hear it, I think about the Forest of Suicides from Dante's Inferno.
(from Wikipedia)
In this ring are the suicides, who are transformed into gnarled thorny bushes and trees. They are torn at by the Harpies. Unique among the dead, the suicides will not be bodily resurrected after the final judgment, having given their bodies away through suicide. Instead they will maintain their bushy form, with their own corpses hanging from the limbs...
"They are the trees, rotten pulp inside and never well, roots sucking, thieving from my source, tired boughs reaching for the light
It is all false pretension, Harlequin forest, awaiting redemption for a lifetime as they die alone with no one by their side, are they forgiven?"
...The other residents of this ring are the profligates, who destroyed their lives by destroying the means by which life is sustained (i.e. money and property). They are perpetually chased by ferocious dogs through the thorny undergrowth. (Canto XIII)
"Into the trees, past meadow grounds, and further away from my home.
Baying behind me I hear the hounds, flock's chasing to find me alone."
Whenever I hear it, I think about the Forest of Suicides from Dante's Inferno.
(from Wikipedia) In this ring are the suicides, who are transformed into gnarled thorny bushes and trees. They are torn at by the Harpies. Unique among the dead, the suicides will not be bodily resurrected after the final judgment, having given their bodies away through suicide. Instead they will maintain their bushy form, with their own corpses hanging from the limbs... "They are the trees, rotten pulp inside and never well, roots sucking, thieving from my source, tired boughs reaching for the light
It is all false pretension, Harlequin forest, awaiting redemption for a lifetime as they die alone with no one by their side, are they forgiven?"
...The other residents of this ring are the profligates, who destroyed their lives by destroying the means by which life is sustained (i.e. money and property). They are perpetually chased by ferocious dogs through the thorny undergrowth. (Canto XIII) "Into the trees, past meadow grounds, and further away from my home. Baying behind me I hear the hounds, flock's chasing to find me alone."
Yes, the similarities are striking and I do think you are right.
Yes, the similarities are striking and I do think you are right.
What I wonder about is the end, why did he burn the woods and what does it mean?
What I wonder about is the end, why did he burn the woods and what does it mean?
@apolyonn Interesting take, and sounds like at the very least a definite source of inspiration. Thanks for sharing that!
@apolyonn Interesting take, and sounds like at the very least a definite source of inspiration. Thanks for sharing that!