The Murderer and the Harlot (Prison of Ice)



I am a scoundrel,
you are a wretch.
You’ve followed me here,
to this dark filthy trench.

I am a liar,
you are a slave.
We both languor on,
with one foot in the grave.

I am a killer,
you are a whore.
But what makes my sin,
more hideous than yours?

‘Cause we’re both horrid scum society rejects;
we’re the loathsome chapters most readers neglect.

I am a murderer, and you are a harlot;
let’s salvage our lives… or what’s left of it.

So you found me here in this prison of ice;
will I survive or meet my demise?
And will you be my guardian angel,
or just another fallen devil?

I am a killer, and you are a whore.
But look, we have an open door!
We can ascend toward salvation,
or plunge and fall to our damnation.

So let’s escape from this prison of ice;
we’ll change our course and avoid our demise.
We can’t erase our old transgressions,
but there’s a chance to grasp redemption.

I am a killer, and you are a whore;
let's both be sinners who sin no more.
While in the flesh we’re locked in prison,
at least our spirits will be ransomed.

I am a scoundrel, and you are a wretch;
let’s both ascend from this dark filthy trench.
While we have time let's salvage our lives,
and save our souls from this prison of ice.

About this poem

Based on Rodion Raskolnikov and Sonya, from Fyodor Dostoevsky's renowned novel, Crime and Punishment.

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Written on February 18, 2023

Submitted by JD.Mags on February 18, 2023

Modified on March 14, 2023

1:24 min read
55

Quick analysis:

Scheme abxb cdxd cexx xf xx ghaa Eeii ghxi Eeif bbxg
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,254
Words 280
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

J.D. Mags

I spent seven years as a photojournalist. I spend much of my time writing poems, listening to music and thinking about life. I have traveled to numerous countries around the world and realized that people everywhere are the same. more…

All J.D. Mags poems | J.D. Mags Books

2 fans

Discuss the poem The Murderer and the Harlot (Prison of Ice) with the community...

1 Comment
  • elyzabethhuff
    It told a story but also showed emotion on a topic that all can relate upon.
    LikeReply1 year ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"The Murderer and the Harlot (Prison of Ice)" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/153560/the-murderer-and-the-harlot-(prison-of-ice)>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

April 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
2
days
15
hours
14
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
What is the term for the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.
A Enjambment
B Dithyramb
C Line break
D A turn