Not sure whether it will be a paradise or something else. But this poem describes well that each choice that we take will row us into somewhere unknown for us.

So depending on how good we are on rowing and taking the right choices then that probably will direct us to the paradise or the other...

I just hope its paradise..We just have to be careful in what we do now when we are alive so we are in a better place when we die.

I love this piece!! I've read Greek mythology before and I remember the river Styx separated the world of the living from the underworld.
"Why did I even board this
wooden, haggard-looking
worn-down and rotten dinghy..."
---I think this is a clever way of expressing regrets, perhaps? Crossing the Styx meant that the persona is dead and is on his way to the underworld, which might mean that the "luxurious cruise ship" is perhaps a metaphor for a way to paradise. Nice..
"I row and I row
for row I must."
---this contributed to the smooth cadence of the piece, I like this.
"The underworld awaits me--
I wonder will it be torment,
or will it be paradise?"
---ehh.. It will be torment (lol) jk..
Nominated!
Keep writing :)
-X

Wow that was an awesome read, you realy did a good ojb portraying your emotions and thoughts about this, i guess its kinda like afterlife? hmmm its unknown for now, I get what you mean ,

So very good job writing this ;)

Let's hope it turns out to take a journey
to paradise

I have been trying to describe this amazing piece of yours for half an hour and here I am! Still stuck in awe! I don't know how I will do this poem justice, it's so (or must I say too?) perfect. I don't know how to begin. Seriously.

'I am rowing and rowing
down a lake of fire.'

What a way to begin your idea! I just loved the 'rowing and rowing' sentence, truly shows how tired, sick and fed up you feel. Perhaps of something you have done and now regret? Or something somebody is doing to you? Something you are forced to follow? It just gave me something to think about. I love how you simply used 'fire' without those fancy 'scorching, incinerating' kind of adjectives. Fire has uncountable meanings. It might be refering to lust, worry, excitement or maybe in your case... regret? I loved this opening stanza and truly feel pleased that I read this poem!

'Why did I even board this
wooden, haggard-looking
worn-down and rotten dinghy
instead of the luxurious
cruise ship with its
passengers far above
the smoldering flames
of river Styx--'

So informative and so poetic at the same time! That's just how life is meant to be! I really fell for this stanza. Those 'haggard-looking, worn-down and rotten' adjectives that you used to describe your 'dinghy' is just so strong! I believe you meant to say (by mentioning that rotten dinghy) that it is your soul, your being that is worn out and impatient, am I right? One can interpret this piece of yours in so many different ways and that's just awesome! And then again you mentioned something about living in luxury and warmth...I just loved that! I would love to say something here...sometimes those pains that come every now and then, those ones that tire our eyes, minds and hearts, those are, at least to me, the life worth living. :)

Perfecly written!

'far above the grasping
hands and screaming,
floating corpses?'

How melancholic!

*sigh*
^
I love the insertion of this. Again that tired tone.

The ending was a BOMB! I nominated this and I hope it wins next week, perfect write, Mat!