Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)

Last year, I started a series of poems based on Mozart’s Requiem. I ended up writing 12 poems that correspond to the 14 movements of the Requiem (two of the poems combine movements of the Requiem). These poems will be part of a book I hope to release this year entitled Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs.

Below is “Dies Irae” (which means “Day of Wrath”). This is the third poem and corresponds to the third movement in Mozart’s Requiem. “Dies Irae” is one of the more frenetic movements of Mozart’s piece, perhaps reflecting the composer’s own sense of fear as he contemplated the unfiltered displeasure of an all powerful being.

“Dies Irae” is less than two minutes. If you haven’t heard it, I would highly recommend listening. This version includes the original Latin text + a translation.

Dies Irae

The kaleidoscopic fires of a supernova spiral 
in the deep space of the prophet’s eye
where everything turns to naked ash and stardust