THE MOUNTAIN OF HELL
THE MOUNTAIN OF HELL
Like Alighieri
My Virgil left me
Not near Paradise
But half-way up
On the mountain’s rocky ledge
Over a flaming putrid sea
He stricken by death’s call
It was now I, not we
Left to face Hell’s steep wall
Alone.
Breathing in the foul
Atrocious purulent stench
I tried to stay far away
From the raging madness
Of the twisted violent bodies
Creatures in the darkness
Circling around me.
Reaching out
In depravity and cruelty
The voices of Heaven
I heard in consolation
Flowed down in a clear voice saying:
“You will not be damaged
You will l not be touched.
We wanted you to see
The face of Hell to strengthen you.”
“Stay strong like me.”
“God is with you”
Confused
Outwardly they look like humans
But they are twisted vile
Vicious demons
Confirmed in deliberate evil
And irrational wickedness
Unrepentantly cruel
Intensely abusive
Ferocious wild
Savage
Saved
They reached out
To tear me apart
But I passed by covered by grace
Holding my ears closed
Dampening their painful shout
Looking down as my footsteps
I Tried to steady my trembling pace
And keep me from falling down
Into the smoke of their thundering clout
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