Atlas Obscura - Latest • Feb. 1, 2026, 3:15 p.m.

“My companions went onward, and I remained behind, trembling with dread—and I felt as though a great, boundless scream passed through nature.” — Edvard Munch, 1892 Before The Scream became the iconic image we know today, Munch first tried to capture his experience in words. In the winter of 1892, he recorded this poem in his diary after walking along this hillside road with friends: I walked along the road with two companions — then the sun went down.

The sky was suddenly turned to blood-red — I halted, leaned upon the railing, weary unto death — over the blue-black fjord and town there lay blood and tongues of fire. My companions went onward, and I remained behind, trembling with dread — and I felt as though a great, boundless scream passed through Nature.

Related