Sullen were we in the sweet air that by the Sun is gladdened,
bearing within ourselves the sluggish fume;
now we are sullen in the black mire.

— Dante Alighieri

If you’re from Burger King, Arkansas, there’s nothing you can do to outrun it,
except to burn the whole town down.

— Cass McCombs

Dante’s fifth circle is the terminus of underachievers, whiners, and slackers everywhere. In other words, freelance writers. I am proud to count myself among them.