Going to hell is usually a tough break. But the poet Michael Palma doesn't seem to mind. To course through bitter waters presently, My wit’s small craft hoists sails for embarkation And takes its ...

The poet Dante Aligheri’s “Commedia” — it picked up “Divine” somewhere along the way — may seem an unlikely contender for relevance. Written 800 years ago, it can feel watermarked by the Middle Ages.

Going to hell is usually a tough break. But the poet Michael Palma doesn't seem to mind. So that it will be worthy of salvation. The challenge to approaching a translation of Dante's original Italian ...

Going to hell is usually a tough break. But the poet Michael Palma doesn't seem to mind. To course through bitter waters presently, My wit’s small craft hoists sails for embarkation And takes its ...