quartet
quartet
1. heaven
the thunderous roar billions of voices singing in praise
the sound of angels feathers dropping onto a soft cloud
the weight of time trillions of moments in infinity blaze
the scales of a soul endeavor to remain ever unbowed
the lit streets paved of golden shimmering from the sun
the walls inlaid diamonds clear cloudy pearls red rubies
the air cut crystal frozen cold polished in pure platinum
the myriad mystic beats near rhythm’s bountiful beauties
the god throne carved perfect of silken luxurious marble
the stair of saints lay listening granting all justified prayer
the gathered gallants genuflect impaling demons horrible
the trumpets tremor glistening in the ear shattering blare
the lowest exalted in meekness raising up to the highest
the poor clothed dark bleakness as fashion of the finest
2. hell
the skin burns yet does not droop and sag from the body
a scent of hot char fills the nostrils no blackened crackle
hearts burst from the intense heat as the blood boils red
in the moment of pain all is healed and hell begins again
as screams are pulled from the ragged jaws frozen agape
echoing in ears hanging in shame as candle wax melting
agony repeated in infinity from the beginning to the end
the sight of the sound creates all nightmares and disease
standing in the cooling pool the mouth of cotton seeking
the waters tantalize and rise and fall forever out of reach
bound to an eternal wheel spinning dizzy and inescapable
as stones to be rolled that crush the wasted ashen bones
or tethered tight a jagged edge swarmed by hungry eagles
for defying the will of gods capricious with their creations
3. limbo
where is this place whose is this face in shadows of ghosts
lingering seconds watch clocks fingering red rosary beads
no sense of taste or touch as such a sad simple soul coasts
blind sight eyes tight blocks the lights as memory recedes
answers breeds these questions a heart bleeds out thought
mull the lack of any sensation null black stones stack high
dark mirrors bring reflections as angels sing songs sought
to murmur the rumors relation glimmering shimmers cry
a cold soul fixed upon a cross as coals glow in dying fires
drift in rifts tied to wooden rafts flouting floating in doubt
evil devils reach for loss a medieval truth relieves the dire
whispering whimpering gasps disguise the diffident shout
timid time divides ever decreases finite become an infinite
inclement driving weather ceases the half lit become starlit
4. purgatory
awakening alive another day on earth in dissolution
to glance about unclearly and wonder what and why
an echo as all mothers pray reality become pollution
accept the illusion sincerely to wander low and high
souls surrounded by subsistence likely looking ahead
live in hunger and in gluttony in pleasure and in pain
aware or unaware of subsequence unknowingly dead
of sly and stealing sin subtly with nothing left to gain
living in the temporary torment while watching decay
the time passes always lost amidst disease and death
horrors hit breed and foment natural mercy on display
through the heat and the frost measuring each breath
to sleep the night for relief only to be beset by dream
grasping to gods for belief chasing the vaguest gleam