Different Kinds of Hell

One night I wandered, dreaming
And stumbled into Dante's hell
suffering AMDG*
"God wills it" writ on every face

Next came I to Hades plain
Elysium's citizens call
"Are we remembered by you?
"What of immortal Achilles?"

And through the frozen north
I shivered my way to Hell's courts
Her grasp lets not one escape
No, not yet beloved Baldr

I could not find dark She'ol
Nor could its Shades direct me there
Rustling restless in the night
Never more knowing anything

But Atheists slept softly
Oblivious to their neighbors
Adventists, too, were silent
And are eternally extinct

*AMDG: ad majorem dei gloriam. Means "to/for the greater glory of god". Jesuit motto. For the record, I have tremendous respect for the society of Jesus. AMDG was convenient to use here and its use is not in any way meant to be disparaging toward the order.

Jazz Suite Waltz

Here we recline among the stars
Bloodbrothers to mighty sun
Thoughtfully watch a waltz unfold
Shostakovich comes to mind

The stars like jazz, admire improv
They ask Gershwin for a tune
Come-all-you to the great dancehall
Sing and whirl the 'verse away

We are dancing with the novas
Waltzing with spiraling twins
Violent and careless partners
Swing each other frenzied round

Stellar arthritis settles in
Movement is softly slowing
As participants take their rest
Cosmic hypothermia