Making of a Poem: Natalie Shapero on “The Top of Hell”
For our series Making of a Poem, Natalie Shapero talks about her issue no. 257 poem, “The Top of Hell.”
Natalie Shapero's poem "The Top of Hell," featured in the Fall 257 issue, explores both the top and bottom of Hell, highlighting the parts its inhabitants don't see. The poet, who rarely draws on Greek mythology, was inspired to write this poem after preparing for a Jeopardy! appearance. During this preparation, she encountered a question about Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall, which sparked the idea for the poem.
Shapero writes outside in her backyard surrounded by her dog, reflecting the natural surroundings in her creative process. One challenge she faced was conceptualizing the physical properties of Hell, such as deciding between "sink" and "plunge." She consulted with editors Chicu Reddy and Oriana Ullman, who suggested using "farther" over "further" for literal distance but acknowledged the possibility of both interpretations.
Shapero was also inspired by the idea of an untethered astronaut in space, comparing it to falling through Hell and likening the experience to a Mars mission.
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