THE SEVEN RINGS
PETER REHARD
COPYRIGHT PETER REHARD 2012
Smashwords edition
******
The Seven Rings
Canto I
The Path of Heaven and the Gate of Strength
Forget my lovely mother,
Dead now, no I can not ever.
For with God, I, a sacred pact
Made, my life, so hers longer lasts.
Gave away life for another,
For my own life giving Mother.
I know she that same cross would bare
If her son was caught by Death’s snare,
Gladly pass off with loving eyes,
Proudly for me let go and die.
For two long years in pain was wrought
I, while her body bore the spots:
As men by plague, the Gods control,
Doomed to die, but their reigns still hold,
Pulling them down into Hell’s pits.
Neither there will their torments dint.
Yet I must have angered the dogs
Who on Olympus are called gods
For those two years I feared I died.
Each day in anguish I would cry.
Believing in sleep suspired,
Taking redemption in fire.
So great the ills I suffered were
That each inch of my body burned,
And it was the worst pain I knew;
But, daily it strengthened and grew.
One day I sat outside and saw
The Sun across horizon draw,
Before the moon had took its place
Aloft in Night composed with grace;
Faded and the emptiest grey
Rose up and about the world laid.
But their in the blankness appeared
One single star, as if a tear
Preludes White Selene’s compassion,
Touching all things and dimensions,
Glittered then I saw it rattle,
Dance from side to side and shattered,
Falling down as a gentle rain,
Touched my brow and was gone my pain.
Across my face a gentle breeze
Blew holding fear or ease.
Ominously I sensed a soul
Among the wind its specter blow.
At once grief sounded like a bell
And towards Heaven I cried and yelled.
My voice echoed and the sky shook,
Had the Fates amended their book;
To my Mother I quickly ran
And saw outstretched her dead pale hand.
From her mouth ran a bloody line
Across her cheek, hardened and dry.
Her face once fair now yellow seemed;
Yet, shedding no tear; nor did grieve,
But to my chamber I prepared
Took up glass vials and stripped bare,
Ran hot water into the bath
And while it filled prepared nepenthe,
Composed of roots and opiates
That my own death may expiate,
And in one gulp I drained the draught.
Inside the pool by sleep was caught
As when Somnus and Pluto fight
Over which God controls the life.
I did not know whether I passed.
My soul no longer held its grasp.
Into the ether I up rose,
Bellow my body seemed so cold,
Yet stranger still I could not feel
But knew things to be real,
As when birds in the sky transcend
Great heights then in an instant bend,
Falling downward, but always fly
True to their goal and where it lies.
I knew not where I needed go
But felt it urgent I should know
Why God, my bond with him removed
Rather her soul than mine make use.
Straight forth I flew with little care
Of my vessel into the air.
Sensing the souls which life had spent
Beside journeying to torment,
But others, aiming towards sky.
Among that host I began rise.
The Earthly firmament we break
Coming to a Heavenly gate.
Before the gate an Angel stood
And above the hem of his white hood
A symbol gleamed vibrant, and bright,
Emitting a powerful light:
Like some ancient, mystical rune
Which God creates and man makes use.
I wonder deeply what it meant,
And being blind was not content.
Towards the Seraphim I neared,
Then struck my heart a holy spear.
Tossed by his hand that never errs,
Nor perishes: lives forever.
To the floor of the first ring was bound
My soul nor any strength was found
To remove the shaft, and its hold;
But gazed upon the lucent gold.
Lying constrained in horrid fear,
Suddenly with a burst appeared
One wearing light as a garment,
As if he the sun had harnessed;
Touched the weapon and it crumbled,
And the stone beneath me rumbled.
In that region no word is clear:
Dulled by the music of the Spheres.
Laying still, my question was mute
But knew he said “The one called truth.”
Sensing all like the man whom blind
Touches nothing without his mind,
I tried some inner sight awake;
But, him no clearer could I make.
Half deaf, blind, dumb, I could not feel;
But, yes, I knew things to be real.
His luminous hand my eyes gild
And it an exploding flash filled
With sight now from its inner source,
Blinding with celestial force.
Slowly over time it relieved
Then, real things I began conceive.
Hoping to speak he said it vain,
From my many question refrained.
Patiently as a teacher old
He guides and attention controls,
Spoke “To God’s throne you think are fit
To come questioning what he writ:
For an eternity has lied
Before he bid the atoms bind,
And his will, will forever stand
An eternity after man.
This is your purpose to fulfill.
You come here not upon free will,
But were coming, always, since life
Was grown by God’s hand upon Night.
You to his throne he has allowed
Or called, but it is not a cloud;
Soft and joyous, as men believe.
Nor the sev’n gates open with ease.
The first ring is the gate of strength.
Six more await at such great length
Endless could your trials precede
And never might you be complete.
I come as a guide sent from Him:
Who made the stars. The Good is Him.
Not to answer but you align
With the answer, in your mind.
All men posses my favorite son,
Believe here him and I are one.
Have faith your essence I will bring
To the Holy throne of our King.”
So many questions in me rose
And his title I wanted know;
Whether he was angel or friend,
A soul, god, or walking dead.
I asked the purpose of the gates
And what in the next did await,
Whether heaven, orb, or a plane;
He from my questions refrained.
That he said and the angel bowed;
Lowered the gate, behind we found
A labyrinth deep, dark and black
Fearful my soul wanted turn back,
The door opens by his command,
For those he knows not of man.
Then with my guide the entrance passed.
Now humbled by a maze so vast
Begged “Master, what way shall I take.”
(called him master for it seemed best,
To title one so by light blest)
For a road across the floor ran straight,
And was divided like a grid
Where track, and track, cross through amid
Walls; too a roof position hides.
Each hall seemed to beckon and lie.
Then worse I feared beside contained
Another level: More remained
Which must be the same as the first.
Each rim alike the Universe.
From bellow to the plain I came
And was opposed by that high gate;
Yet, as a sprite distances seemed
Shorter than they must really be.
As when upon the seas strong waves
A captain, by night, navigates.
The Ocean to his eyes so small
Appears when compared to the stars.
Thus a light year had no meaning,
When one knows space continuing,
Does extend in all direction,
As lines with imagination.
Until my destination was set
at the end of infiniteness,
I had not weighed the length of time
Nor fully pictured in my mind
How far I have came and must yet
Journey, making any progress;
But, my guide put those thoughts to ease.
truth brings the soul, purest relief.
Saying “Soon all things you will know
And I have warned the path is slow;
This is not the realm of Wisdom;
But lies separate and far from,
None here are holding directions;
Seeing by their speculation
Have not been awakened by me;
But, for ages go wandering
Waylaid, and wayward through the maze:
That has no right path, nor right way.
Do not now consider the shape
Of Heaven or how it was made,
Nor distances that the mind thinks
Insurmountable to complete
For time is only a unit
Measured by man watching orbits.
Heaven has no powerful Sun
Except the one born of Great God.
And distance is nothing when time
Stands still for the highest Divine;
Yet, before going tell I must
For in you, like wise do I trust.
Each high Angel these souls contrive
To aid more from when they alive
Possessed a body full of ills;
And now final service fulfill.
But you bare a forbidden Mark
Where Strength struck: Tore your chest apart.
Dead you are, but not forever
Human life might you remember.
All will know you are forbidden.
From no one will help be given,
But as a trespasser will scorn
You. Of the Seraphim be warned.
From those souls no harm can you take,
But the Angels above each gate
Follow the will of God always:
Never faulty, nor can degrade.
As their Duty, you chain and lock
Forev’r to adamantine rock,
At any sight of your specter
Despite who is your protector.
Though you came to answer God’s call
The Seraphim must hold their walls”
“Importunely marked, in what way
Could I come near and pass each gate!”
Said I in most rueful content,
Vaunting and my ire made vent.
“How could the divinely chosen
Truly be a foe in heaven;
Yet, now the maze of Strength awaits
For you to master and defeat.”
He answered calming my spirit.
And we entered the Labyrinth.
********
Canto II
The Middle Hold and Minotaur
Each path, each wall had no entrance;
Greatly disturbed by the presence
Of the many souls sick and weak
I became tentative and meek,
For over their ether a rash
Bubbled, and it was cut and gashed.
Strengthless they were dead, dull and pale.
Throughout the paths they moaned and wailed.
Asking “If there is no exit
Nor right way in this Labyrinth,
How long until becoming frail
Like old soldiers in broken mail
Without a shield are defenseless
Go will I before my essence
Like my unlucky brethren;
I see the ill fated omen;
Wander these paths and touching walls
As if in each footstep I fall
Or trigger some avenging trap
That sits hidden between each crack,
Lay my motions ever slowly
For my cowardice of folly.
Look this chamber we are now in.
Entered quickly but at its end
Found no way around or exit.
The halls, and walls, and stones must shift.
The entrance which we came is sealed.
Nor any exit can I feel.
Each stone I grab thinking it holds
An answer, I go further slow
Go on but only in retreat;
At the end a beginning meet.
Like objects falling through black holes;
I grow feeble passing each soul.
For once as I the same path went:
Doomed forev’r the course circumvent.
With each foot and step I lose strength,
Nor do I gain any distance.
I will be spent at no great length.”
“Allowing the perishing will
Rest and recourse; forever, still
Like the souls who have lost their way.
Worse sight of what they hoped to gain,
Only then will that visage keep
Alike to them, bereft of peace,
Move always, but never at all
Being enclosed by ev’ry stone wall.
Earthly laws here do not apply.
How foolish walk when you can fly.”
Spoke Light and my vigor awakes.
With fresh energy new paths take;
Yet no way clear could I define
Or rise into the air and fly.
But over time, thinking began
See my ethereal limbs and hands
Pass through one another as false
Images are cast upon walls
By a hand, becomes distorted
When skin the picture deflected.
My soul was not transfixed firmly
Chained beside vice in the body,
But as if Zephyr keeps a form,
So I alike wind am born.
Perhaps I can not fly but drift
As the breeze touches all then slips
By crevice, bolted lock and crack.
Is both in front and at man’s back.
Not then gently but with great force
I Pushed my sprite through the rock’s pores.
Where once I was blocked from going;
Being trapped since I unknowing
Held ignorance of my new state,
Was chained by ignorance in place.
Where once all actions did avail--
Over the gray rocks I prevailed.
So went my guide and I with ease
Until a soul by memory
Awoke an image of a face,
Or member of the earthly race
That I perchance had met before,
Laying still embracing the floor
And to my guide urgently said
“Master is he living or dead?”
“Those words here can have no meaning.
Test if he has strength remaining.”
I touched him and with a moan cried
“Better if I was not alive!
Better if I was not created
Than lay here lost and defeated.
Once I prospered where men found tears,
Bullets, blood and their darkest fears.
Taking blows from common brothers,
Yelling for their dear, dear. mothers .
In grease and gore I stood firmly,
Composed and with virility
Like a lion through the bush runs
All before him bow and succum
When dry grass beneath his paw breaks,
Roars, you as an enemy takes;
But see how by the maze has changed
I, now battling the rocky grain.”
“Master,” I said, “I knew him well,
If he in my home town used to dwell.
Where did your mother give birth?
Where did you live upon the earth?”
“Near America’s South east shores,
Where men are rich and women whores.”
“On earth I knew you as Visman,
Yet here I could not envision,
Of the seven rings trapped by first,
Alive by this you proved your worth.”
“Have you not seen how they differ
Between the firmaments: alters
Ideas to reality.
My fault is spiritually.
Go on! This is no place for friends
Or memories of broken ends.”
I wanted pull him to his feet,
And carry his burden with me;
But, true light said it was no use
For he must the way alone renew.
So we left him there as the rest
Souls wandering an endless quest.
As zombies: eyes closed, open mouthed;
drones in hives going further down,
Up, all movements are in vain.
Existence by them seems inane.
Thousands were there and thousands more.
Worse, as ghouls, their sight I abhorred.
Each looked at me as if I harmed
Their essence, or by mystic charm
Imprisoned them forever here
Where each wall is the same as there.
The realm of strength and chambers closed
Where nothing came from strongest souls.
How long we went I can not say,
Yet counting each step of the way:
Ten-thousand score, by nine-hundred
I counted once and abandoned
As a foot in a marathon
That past the finish line goes on
Forev’r, forev’r; so long a word
When thinking from a living world.
Somewhere between infinity
We came where all lies equally,
And at the rings most centered part
A second circle, at its heart,
Like a giant perishing star
Black and red stood a Minotaur.
At my soul he looked and roared,
Bellowing spat up blood and gore,
Along his body ran deep scars:
Bled eternally, dripped like tar;
From his mouth spat a viscid slime
Coating his flesh in yellow grime.
His imposing muscles were torn,
And his tendons and sinews shorn;
But worst of all his fragile horns:
Shattered: in each step broken more.
With his awful hands an axe weilds;
Upon his forehead the same seal
That marked strength’s angel, burned and glowed:
Over his eyes violence throws.
Stomping, he started towards me.
Horrified to my guide, I reached,
“Master, by what means do monsters
Dead on earth next in sky wander
As angels or the heavenly
Escape God and contumely
To adverse divinely chosen.
Whether this is sign or omen,
A test or breaking of his laws;
You say God can not possess flaw;
Whether challenge or misfortune,
Pass or retreat by this portent;
How can it in strength’s realm exist
Among the good which it conflicts?”
“God,” said he, “allows truths known,
Yet hides some as he does his form.
All things for souls are not fit.
Rather than question what he writ
Face the trials and trust in him.
Faith is your only salvation.
You need no weapon to prove force,
Beat the monster, escape the course!”
As he finished the sharpened blade
Struck the ground, my specter near maimed.
But to the right with a jump dived,
Road, and further right made my stride.
Always cautious, his blows evade
Let them strike the floor, on it lay
Destruction which he means for me,
Halting my chosen destiny,
Tossing up stone and marble rock
In powdered dust, molten red: hot.
As his axe sliced the timid air,
By the wind blew the souls' despair.
Sensing now far more than ever,
(By it the beast took as bever)
What sickened both my hope and will.
Right, again through the muck and swill,
Continued right so many times,
Dodging blows and routed in grime,
Circled the monster as defense,
Could strike no blow, or make offense;
But in the palpitating air
I sensed all my brothers’ despair.
My failing will, its pace soon slacked,
Felt blood and puss drop on my back.
Felt flesh and gore over me lay,
And heard the whining of his blade;
Could see behind the forceful beast
A tower of death made for me.
The strength for one last move I drew.
Went sharply right but how he grew,
When close by my gaze began rise
From his cracked hooves to deadly eyes.
Seeing the giant towering,
So wroth in ire, vomiting,
What else could be done but embrace
Death, assuming my cosmic place.
Through its bile with a cry yelled,
Inspired or with faith compelled
“Whether immortal or demon,
Lamb of god or hell's heathen,
Whether darkness or light protects;
I fear not what awaits me next.
Dead I am, or dead my body.
The soul should continue always.
What destruction can you reap me
When my specter has no feeling.
I defy time and pass through walls;
But now can not defy gods laws.
I take faith over disbelief…
In God’s destiny take relief.”
With a clang and jolt his ax bound
Deeply into the broken ground,
Passing through me with no effect,
No wound, no gash, no cut it left.
The forceless Minotaur went back
To the center leaving his ax.
With new power I felt imbued
And the next rim began to view.
A new force awoke in my soul.
Throughout me strength began to grow.
Inside a small flame became lit,
Like the end of a candle wick;
And where the beast stood a portal
Burst out of the rock and marble.
My guide and I, stepping forth, through;
And, a new realm began to view.
Canto III
The ring of wisdom and new guide.
To of these events begin speak
Seems not within my mortal reach.
Yes, mortal though once I was dead;
Forget! it awaits up far ahead.
Phoebus does not beside me sing,
Nor can you hear the muses bring
On light feet the Olympian's fame,
Firstly singing of their father’s name.
Greatly do I struggle in speech.
With each word I think fail and leach
Off the famous poets before:
Singing clearly and singing more;
But this journey I am bound to tell
Whether successful or I fail.
Thinking once for my dead mother
The course of fate could be altered,
Did so much but for what reason?
As through perennial seasons
Relief farmers plant, grow, and reap
The things they want; not what they need.
Turning harvests into poison
Drawn from the sun pure and foison;
Yet all men think possessions could
Substitute equally the good.
Finding myself in a new realm
Having past strength I could not tell
What should come next or where we were,
How heaven was set; to truth turned
“What has happened? In a burst here
We have not come, simply appeared.
This rim seems quite the same as first:
The wall and the angel above its girth,
Seem the same, has by awful fate
Somnus changed his dreaming to hate!”
Said I crying if souls could tear
And saw the guard and truth come near,
With their hands outstretched. I then said
As if they wished the death I dread.
“O miserable life betrayed
By master who in faith I laid,
Followed blindly and to the end.
Nullified by one I called friend!”
Distraught I moaned, bitterly sighed,
Loathing the angel and my guide,
Cursed the names of truth and great good,
Swore and scowled at where they stood.
As when prisoners from chains break
But fear death far less than escape
Or lost men hiding from rescue.
Easier call what he knows truth
Than lose what makes him what he is.
Thinking he has some importance
Becomes cunning and suspicious,
Believes men aid to harm grows vicious.
“Foolish soul be still and quiet.”
Said my guide but I grew violent.
And the Seraphim took my arms,
Held me knowing I wished them harm.
By his four bright wings I was wrapped
And with a scroll in his hands trapped.
“All you now possess was given
By me from the word of heaven,”
Said the figure of light called Truth.
Instant all my anger did lose.
“Do you believe a common soul
Passes strength and no wisdom holds?
Thousands and thousands souls still there
Will exist eternally where
One only leaves by thoughtful life:
Earthly reflections save the sprite,
Or an understanding of heav’n.
By faith and mind an answer gives;
Yet, with me beside you obtained
Yes, not the answer but the way.
as at night nothing can be seen
But by daylight a vivid scene.
In heaven you are not alike
The other souls, and God knows right
That you be brought by help to him,
Brought, not alone, start, and begin.
Thus finished you will not be pure
And life again you might endure.
Knowing all, but all not wholly
Is contradicting and folly,
Yet this is what God has ordained
And shall be worse than two years pain
Having to suffer in your mind
Incompleteness, for answers pine.
You are fit to enter; not stay
In god’s city eternally
Quiet your voice and knowledge take,
As much you can knowing god’s grace.”
Humbled on the floor regret found.
“Pour soul,” Light said, “your soul changes
But still your life force is hanging
To the body bellow on earth.
Sad this is not your second birth,
Only a division between
Good and bad. You are not free.
Six rings more challenging remain.
Where but half of you can face them.”
If I could cry I would have then
For I drew fire on a friend.
Over powered by wisdom’s ring
I searched for words to make amends.
Good truth said I need not repent,
Pulled me up and the seraphim,
Opened the gate by his emblem.
Straight forth we came to green fields.
The sky foamed and was with blue filled;
Yet, above not a single cloud
In the azure expanse was found,
Upon the floor a green fog rolled
And it flickered from blue to gold.
Nor plants, flowers or animals,
Existed only the souls were
Sitting, planted in gas like seeds.
Over time might grow into trees,
Beautiful flowers and orchids
Once by ring and light were nourished.
Millions sat there awaiting rain,
Hands up stretched, from the downpour gain
Realization of a truth
Or by revelation their worth;
Forever, forever I saw
The planted souls in that good lawn.
But on my essence I felt start
A film, a disease scold and smart.
When I neared they shunned my presence
As an outcast and thought’s menace.
“In this realm I must remain now.
I am always to wisdom bound,”
Said my guide and I in dismay
Asked while my rash increased in pain,
“If I am not fully a soul
And can not on my own the goal
Reach without a companions aid;
Too here all souls my essence hate,
How shall I go in such constraints?
Alone, knowing alone abates.”
“There is one I know of who could
Give aid in your search for the good.
A soul once lived the purest life,”
Said to my questioning, my guide.
“He sought truth always by reason.
Thus his soul was in best condition.
Dead, considered to good for hell,
towards heaven he flew and fell,
Would rise, and to the firmament
Touch truth falling back; never relents.
No angel o’er him power held.
No word or fear his spirit quelled.
He shunned ancient Lucifer’s gate
Where all souls then were forced await
The hallowing and son of good;
Would have come had god not withstood
The many attempts at entrance
Into high and holy heaven.
Long ago outside hell he met
The soul by which mankind is blessed.
For millennium he has been
Here over the good reflecting.
Now I sense he knows all really
And will continue his journey.
So, alike you, he will go on
To the next ring and next along.
No better soul with you can lead.
None better the right way decry.”
Then to a soul alone we came.
His aura was calm but a flame
Passed the thousands digging with roots
For a thought, wisdom or pure truth.
Within his specter burned and glowed
And the inner light through him flowed.
Soft and warm he set my ether,
When it shown upon my specter,
As comforted in summer air;
Yet cold when to this is compared.
Without a touch he held me firmly,
And no longer was I surly,
But subdued and ready to take,
What sense of my confusion make.
Truth looked at me and bid goodbye
A lighting bolt or flash the sky
Received and then a dim glow fell.
Wisdom’s souls seemed to think it well
For they began to nod and glow.
It caused their own inner lights grow,
And some dropped pieces of their rash
That on top of their spirits sat.
“Friend or guide,” I said quietly
“I am lost in these happenings,
Coming to that ring of strength first
Only for an answer I pushed.
Now feeling as a young child when
Lost, hindered by comprehension,
Muttering, his thoughts make no sense”
“Brother be still you will not want hence.
But before learning come to ease
Then may gain by smaller degrees.”
I sensed the music of the spheres,
Churning, grinding like metal gears.
All thoughts by them were diluted,
Distracted I felt polluted.
“Firstly,” he said, “Earth senses cast off.
The inner site better suites those aloft,
With good, or the rings of virtue;
Your better thoughts will misuse.
Leave hearing, smell, tough, sight and taste
In the body, that is their place.
For why see what can not be seen
And worse degrade reality?
It is always better to know
Not needing what an eye can show
Each part of your soul is an ear,
An eye, a mind, by the soul hear.
Then music that seemed clamorous,
Sounds in each ear harmonious.
Have not an eye but be sight,
Nor smell but know odors true-right”
Sinking back into the green gas,
The music opened up at last
And like the pleasure of a kiss
On the hands, neck, back, cheek or lips
From a true love; and the pure bond
Works to increase the sensation;
I, one of existences parts
Felt love and the bond begin start,
Envelope all of my sprite in joy,
Pleasured me and my mind deployed
Confusion, taking up new thought.
No longer did I feel so lost.
********
Canto IV
The knowledge of Good and Evil
Reflecting o’er many hours
Things within my dual powers
Began to know, and know truly
Though not fully and wholly.
Now if I spoke of all I learned
Many more pages must be turned,
In the stead of geometry,
Physics, and astronomy
All explained in fullest detail
Accept I would surely fail
And say what I of heaven learned.
Once I calmed and myself controlled
Sensing each fragment of my soul
Possessing a limitless mind
Make progress in its search for why
Began know of numbers and forms
And from where our ideas are born,
Knew lines, shapes, and identities,
Particles, points and gravity,
Time, space, past, future and present,
Began to know what all things meant.
Then with a question to my guide,
My brother, asked how heaven lied.
“If all of these things coexist
Like a bowl in which all is mixed,
If truth is here and justice there,
Whether free or fixed in the air,
If one is there and one is here,
Temperance far or evil near,
How can one begin partake
Of one, or does it lesser make.
No longer whole, no longer true
Does it grow or itself renew,
Does it move, or encompass all,
Laying level or circular?
If one is one and two is two
And one is the lesser of two
How can two be made of two ones
When one can only be the one?
How can a strong man be unwise;
Do they together coincide?
Do all things share a connections?”
“No nothing is so connected,
But close your mind and imagine
How there are many dimensions.”
Said the old soul and, “Like a book,
Is the many layered universe,
But on a single page compressed,
And at the same time separate.
Truth in its own realm is present,
So is strength, courage, temperance,
Wisdom, justice, wealth, and beauty:
All things exist with clarity
In their realms and from them man takes
Ideas of perfected states;
Yet, on earth where nothing is true,
The idea has but little use.
If by reason, in terms of good,
The reflections with patience could
Purify the soul while living
And cultivate it for heaven.
Being hindered by the senses
And the foul bodies weaknesses.
Not until death grants us freedom
Do we obtain a true wisdom
And partake of the layered fields:
Holding perfection and truth yield.
Strength’s rim is immortality,
But on earth its reality
Is distorted and men believe,
Strength is power over the weak.
So is wisdom thought to be facts
But so much in truth does it lacks.”
(What mystery the universe
Where all is blended and immersed,
Contained in its own dimension
Yet in their realms not connected)
“Then,” I asked, “evil too resides
Layered with the good or beside?”
“Compressed,” he told, “but not the same.
Alive men commit wrong as right.
Thinking the wrong adds good to life,
Believing bodily pleasure is good,
Or that gold is better than wood,
They say pleasure, but mean relief
And this is from where stems their grief.
Men think life is better than death,
And poverty lesser than wealth,
For the good and bad have been blurred
Thus men do what make their souls worse,
Yet never do those two combine
Or perish though they seem to bind.
As money can be used as both:
Aid or destruction: seems as both
But one retreats over powered when
When in an object it flowers,
Grows and its attributes outspread
Its counterpart and opposite.
Both in heaven are separate
For souls from senses are exempt.”
“As you said virtue differs there,”
I began, “ How must they compare.
If strength’s perception there is wrong,
Can there on earth be right or wrong?”
“Not truly, but the idea
If upheld by questioned reason
Will allow the good to prevail
And inevitably bad fails.”
“On earth virtue must be knowledge
Of ideas, not appearance.”
“Yes, not like the parts of a face
But square boxes by gold encased.
Having one common character
Making the other possible.
But being pieces, or a part
They must all from some greater stem.”
“Then in heaven knowledge of truth
Its identity is virtue,
And perhaps a portion of the good.
Then easier in its own realm,
To define it and comprehend.”
“Yes! Friend, what can you infer now
Of wisdom draw away its shroud
And know what of this realm you must
And then go off to temperance.”
“The knowledge of good and evil.”
Over that thought I began think
And good and bad together link.
Yes, I knew the good to be good
And bad the opposite of good,
I sensed the good to be pleasing
And bad to be harmful, really.
What sense comes from similar names
Or identities that are in vain.
I knew not what good or evil
Was nor could say god or devil.
I wanted call them ancient laws
Ordained, written by holy god.
I thought they could be outer rims,
Slightly thicker holding all in.
Then in a flash the answer came
Sadly that truth in heaven stays
For it is the same as god’s form.
Some mysteries are forev’r sworn,
Protected by a holy seal,
Unbreakable and ethereal.
Always in the realm of being
And hid from human eyes viewing.
Next I began to draw the lines,
Between good and bad in my mind.
I knew the good and found it right
Knew evil and its fake insight
And defined what was good and bad
Knowing right as a soul not man.
Then my new guide uprose and said
“Now, my friend do you understand?”
“I know not all and all fully,
But think I comprehend really,
In stability and control.
I believe I can sense by soul.”
He laid his hands upon my face.
I sensed the heat from his soul race
Throughout my specter and he smiled;
Embraced me loving and mild.
“You and I will make this journey
Together in fraternity.
Lending each other help in need,”
He said and I nodding agreed
“With you beside I have no fear,”
I said and followed him to where
An unmeasurable amount
Of soul dotting the plains throughout
As when men gather at parades
Or armies before they engage
Sit encamped and by the future
Are froze with thoughts of torture
Or awaiting a festival
Men smile and are jovial.
So were the fields of men in thought
Mixed with like of both feelings wrought.
Some sat alone, cried, inflicted
By a pain of their ignorance
Or from their beliefs hindrance,
As each new thought caused discomfort
Breaking down their past imparts.
I pitied those souls for I knew
Their blindness before mine withdrew.
They mashed their teeth and faces rent,
Screaming madly, beating their breast,
And their were some who were silent
Staring blankly and kept quiet
As if a thought proved out of reach
With hands upraised to be set free.
And their were some caught by pleasure,
Not the earthly but true pleasure.
Men still, were grouped in parties
Sadly some souls were debating,
And certain souls like orators
Led the groups as flatterers:
There were bands of dialectics,
Liars, prophets, sophists, hectics.
But we passed all to the center,
Spoke no word and sought to enter
The next region of perfection
That my guide said was temperance.
In the middle by the inner gate
That does to other rims transport
Another seraphim was lord
Of the portal, brandished his sword.
A seal was engraved on its hilt:
A golden mark of wisdom gilt.
As we approached a lightning,
Emblazoned through the air flashing,
Near struck my specter had not light
Intervened, granting me respite,
Brokering us through the portal
Where are souls face marks of mortal.
********
Canto V
The Ring of Temperance and First Hall
I have seen the body grow frail
Beneath earthly sin and fail
As the good becomes a pleasure
Or the bad can not be weathered.
Like a hungry beast at last
Set free devours all it grasps
And becoming a slave again
To food, sex, drugs, and other sins,
Loses itself and rampages
Yet never breaks its new cages ,
Nor knows it to be a burden
longing for the old confinement.
O, how has my voice began change
As through the realms of heaven range
Like the poets inside dark caves
From the shadows speeches creates;
Yet, after his second exit,
Seeing the light, speaks different
Once his eyes to real truth adjust
And his old singing seems unjust.
So do I wonder if it harms
Lies to men for a greater cause.
Then must violent beasts be subdued
To prevent themselves worse abuse;
Better if stopped on his own accord
Yet, what if a lie is the source.
We appeared into a great hall
Encased by a half circled wall.
At the forefront was a
large door
built of hard adamantine boards.
Rising to the ceiling, engraved
A mark of temperance, displayed
Upon the door. A mellow light
Off the crest rose and struck us quite.
“What an oppressive
door,” I said
“Where is the one of Temperance,
Keeping watch, the chamber holds?”
“Forget him and let us further go.”
Said my friend as we slowly approached
and into the framing encroached.
The entrance large as a planet
Holding but the one monument:
The door: a towering statue
Contrasting the blank room’s white hue,
Seemed to be large as city
And the entrance infinity.
I stood there wondering, fearing,
From the door to the walls turning,
But my wise guide, the handle grasped,
Pulled, though froze was the lock and clasp.
So we for a time began pace
About the white and barren place.
Until at length the door opened
And entered the fourth seraphim.
I in terror drew back and screamed.
Passing my guide took hold of me,
Before giving me a warning,
With his four wings to him he drew
And onto the floor, I, he threw,
Beating me with his holy arms;
Striking me blank but did no harm.
“No hall will lead you the wrong way
Nor do any rooms good contain.
Your going I can not prevent
For I see you are heaven sent..
Be temperant and ever mild,
Cleansing your soul of the marks vile,
Remaining from an earthly life.”
Those words cut into me like a knife
And knew all of the blemishes:
Sins covering me like rashes,
Puss filled boils and open wounds,
Dripping bile and rotting stool.
One for each done iniquity:
Lust, sloth, wrath, greed, and gluttony.
“Worry not over appearance,
Only of the soul’s existence.”
Through the third holy seal we break
Into a hall, so great its length,
A million miles were a foot;
A million feet followed the first.
Curving upward and towards far left,
Breaks on the rim where it is cleft.
Starts where the radii bisects
The entrance, ends where circumvents
The centers angle bisected:
Its ray through the mid circles breadth.
Doors on both sides bordered along
The walls, through the hallway a throng
Walked, sparse, a single file train
From room to room and back again.
No attention they gave to me,
Or my guide but in front of me
Went through a door or exited
In relief or a depression,
As the halls of houses of flesh
Where men come and go but are left
Whether or not they know
Of the injury to their souls
With black marks of iniquity
Slicing into their dignity.
The first left door we touched and pushed
And into what a scene we burst.
Arrayed like a hedonist’s feast
Where more is favored to the least.
Arranged in rows extending on
Forever, always, and anon,
Tables filled with flattering tastes;
Sherberts, pastries, ices and cakes
That exult the mouth in sweetness
Appealing to sense's weakness.
Souls on chairs and couches reclined,
Vomited, ate, vomited, lied,
Swallowed meats, choked, gargled and spat,
Took their bile eating it back.
“What a strange room we have entered
Where food the soul overpowers.”
I wished I could speak to the souls,
But consumed in their plates and bowls
Never began my essence loathe
Or the mark of banishment know,
That I held, in temptation
Ate as if it was salvation
Like men by water say are cleaned
Submerged in rivers and streams
Take unto them condemnation
Thinking faith an act’s devotion.
My friend with a party conversed
While I wandered along the course
For food I had no desire
Or let my soul as bodies tire.
How can food fuel an immortal
Even if it wants temporal?
After a time my guide returned
And spoke to me of what he learned.
“The ring of temperance stands true,
Filled with such imprisoning rooms
As many could be found on earth
Composed of what bodies make worth.
This room of food onward extends.
All victuals from rot suspend,
Grow, preserve, replenish, renew;
But to our purpose serves no use.
These souls through the chambers have roamed
And to me with laughter informed
That to advance all doors must be faced.
The second hall behind one awaits,
And most in this room have not stayed;
Growing in other rooms afraid,
Flee back to this natural vice
Forgetting how they strong and wise
Over came heavens two first rings
Allowing residual sin
Defile and advert the way.”
“Then let us no longer remain.”
“The two of us must make a pact
Never to leave the other back,”
Proposed my guide and made me swear;
Bound the pledge in the hungry air.
“For one room will heavier way
On the other tempting him stay,
And vice to be good he will think
As his soul and body relink.”
We slipped off from the comic host
Leaving them to their gluttoned toasts,
Left and into the next room went
Where my friend was took in torment.
Bottles of beer, spirits and wine
Continued on in rows and lines
To the rooms astronomic end
And the souls would drink to the end,
Would drink as if they had sorrow
Unquenchable as tomorrow.
My poor friend a bottle took, drained
Yet not inside of him remained
But his drought ran onto the floor;
Unrelenting drank more and more.
As my hand extended him aid
Like a ghost or dead winter shade
I sensed I knew a specter there
Who drank of bottle like the air.
Frantically grasping one by one
As if by them pain was undone.
And all the love within me broke
Nor could I move my hands one note
To hold her close, convey my heart
Nor the good and wants know apart.
To speak with god my purpose was
For my own wants and his good cause;
O, I would have lost all to be
Beside her if she had known me.
I pulled my guide from alcohol
Through the door back into the hall.
He said, “The grape was my worst sin
And at times drank o’er my children.
How wrong! Murderous the vine is
Grown by vile Dionysus .
How foolish I to favor
A grape and before good waver.
Thank you friend I owe you all.”
The scabs of his blemish began fall.
No imperfection his soul donned.
Yet my memory did not wan.
Then my guide embraced me warmly
Saying “Who was that soul you found,
Shook you as if on earth were bound,
Connected by a love so fair
It even doubles in despair.
“Call her by the name Morticia,
Dollores, or puella Bella,
Or call her my only reason,
Call her spring in winter’s season,
But memory has her relieved
As if the bottles held Lethe.
Now my path is only selfish,
Contrary to the good I wish.
Better had I never began,
Tempted god, wished, hoped and demand
Some answer when the answer sits
Always in the heart and my wits.”
“For you to come it is set down,
Often actions, reasons abound
Now if you know which way is right,
Which choice should have been made that night
Follow then the greater of goods
And in these rooms search rather brood.”
I assent and into the third
Room we went with no other words.
That door, a lounge of opiates
Behind, were men so delicate,
Sat smoking through eternity.
We removed our proximity.
Rather than dope our given minds
And fear, by a fear of its kind.
The fourth right door a hall contained
Yet many more behind remained.
Canto VI
The remaining rooms in the halls of Temperance
My guide and I found resistance
Against the edible vices,
Though he wanted drink and I dope
We battled desire and coped,
Healing our residual marks:
Human sin that on the soul rots;
Became pure, my guide, near perfect.
I lost three unwanted defects
Falling of my spirit like snow
When winds through the winters blow.
Yet worse halfway surpassed reason:
My purpose for journeying on.
Before another door we tried.
Our sin, vice, feeling be decried.
I opened up and let outspread
My confusion and misplaced dread
Like a river forged by new rains,
Trickles slowly then it gains
Force unstoppable, trees up route
And a gorge forms by its hard route.
“If my mother on earth suffers
And in heaven by chance prospers
So better for her to have died,
Sense Good, Truth and with God beside
Have pleasure for eternity
Being of the divinity.
Pain and wrong in the body live,
Only blemishes the soul gives.
I know! Yet what is my purpose
To come before god blasphemous.
Do I go for the greatest good?
Before I came, misunderstood
and perhaps did good thinking wrong.
Foolish, misguided as the throng
Which throughout these halls makes its way
Nor from its memory abstains.
Why am I following the good
When each soul thinks sin is good?”
“All souls,” he said, “will face demons,
And it time will find the reason
To end what once did gratify
The body in the quickest time
Siding with what pleasures the soul.
The good as we have come to know.”
Put to ease by my wisest friend
Opened the next door and found sex.
On a stage covered by four wings
Stood naked a young cherubim.
After the angel all souls lust
And towards it they would run;
Yet, the angel from their grasps slips
Into the air, by its wings drifts.
The souls would all lustfully cry
And from their phantom loins rot whine.
Many stages that room did hold
And Cherubim coated in gold.
Instead of inwardly assaults
That would produce nothing but fault,
We Left, in the next room found men
Lying with each other content,
Left and found many fetishes:
Jewels of desire’s wishes.
All so perverted that to speak
Of the sodomy makes me weak.
By a right door into the next hall,
Entered a door on the left wall.
Now in the third long corridor
Found basic temptations no more,
But the complexities of mind
Intermingled: human, divine.
No animal such things can feel,
Nor can one say all of them real.
But in the remaining halls: five
Does not breed the appetitive.
Like blood shooting into the heart
We opened the door to honor.
Stood on platforms showered by praise
Were souls by angels had no names,
Committed no act or great feat,
But honor donned like olive wreaths,
Anointing themselves with perfumes,
Holding perched doves that never flew.
Honor to us was an old name
Given to those who desired fame.
The whole ring was alike to when
One finds loose a man and women.
We hoped in the next room would be
A mind’s joy, but found vanity.
In the room were many mirrors
One for each soul to stand before
And they stood with no eyes to look
Pleasure from the removal took.
We opened each door, saw then left
As when in a gallery guests,
Gather from an artwork a theme,
With the knowledge silently leave.
We sensed the excess of riches
And too the extreme of despots.
With four more marks off my spirit
We walked and broke the quiet
With reflection of temperance.
Taking a right door as passage
To the forth hall had no assuage.
A level we came to believe
For all things of man ran between
And it wavered from side to side.
Best at center balance abide.
We entered the first door of five
Filled with the sufferings of pride.
The souls as when an Alpha male
Ages and his strength begins fail,
Pitied not by the pride or pack
But only himself for his lack
Leaves rather than take a low state
And once again be supplicate.
The second was envy’s leering room,
Devoid of objects; yet, remove.
They envy a soul for a soul
Or the identity alone,
For in some way they themselves loathed.
As do the greedy in the third
Whom want though they have left the world
And possessions have no value,
Nor any possessions to view.
The fourth: a room of souls restless.
Comprised of sprites who thought useless
Themselves, action and any thought
Wind about and their specters taught,
Bend, spin, tear, rip, twist, and release,
But always moving never cease.
The fifth room was of depression
Souls that sloth had made impression.
My guide and I left the five pits
Took its meaning and then out-slipped.
By those human things not tempted
Saw their truth and then repented
Though no dialectic was held
With any soul it was all well,
For by their actions we obtained
Much more than their speech could convey
For to my guide in the sixth hall
Before we began inspect, stalled.
“You say these rooms filled by demons
Have purpose, what is the reason?”
“We have opened room after room.
Opened more and passed many rooms
Sensing the earthly things of man
Remaining on the soul as brands.
Though a soul, some human remains.
As you are connected so they;
Yet, not by the body but sin.
So their good seems come from the sin.
But greatness stems from purity.
Men may call it purgatory.
A quest for purification.
To break the earthly connections.
The body on the soul imparts
Forever its temporal parts
Over good and bad you wonder.
It is man himself you ponder.
Things of him to both are innate,
Yet towards both can lean and change.
Evil attacks the lesser part
And it sits within mans loins and heart.
Without good their can be no bad,
Or good, untested by the bad.”
Then we entered the door of grief,
Mourning the past in no relief
Were souls tearing at their specters
In ash pits as they remember
All events and earthly actions
Ending in negative substance.
Crying and moaning, but to where;
In uncontrollable despair.
We did not to them try and talk.
They could only yell out. We walked.
And into another room the same
It seemed; yet they did not deface,
With ashes and wounds their spirits,
Only seemed to possess great regret.
With any soul we could not speak
Or our own aid to them outreach.
Simply take a meaning: retire.
Pass, enter, exit, pass, retire,
Going right but the hall went left,
Curving, elipsing, the rings end.
Choosing many doors unknowing,
Some empty, filled or alien.
Came to and through a doorway wet
We, From tears which longing had let.
Want for old loves, and old friends
And old chances to make amends.
We left and into the last hall
Found three doors between two walls.
The first of love, the second zeal
Such strong bonds to both rooms we feel.
Occupying them longer then all,
Nearly in them finding second fault.
The temptation of them seemed pure
And into the rooms we were lured,
By our love and zeal for the good,
But did not know the good withstood,
Being God who can not be known
Wholly or his visage shown.
Knew good to the heavenly point
Where the crag and summit are joined.
In the hall we died and mourned.
Holding each other ourselves scorned,
Believing we knew all before.
We touched those two most fatal doors.
And knew the extent of blindness,
When faith and truth are distorted.
Through the third door we went, entered
Found the inner ring, its center.
My composure had been forgone.
I could neither move or go on
Because the angel guarding was
Ablaze, sensing my many flaws,
In stance, poise, and ready to strike,
Nor was I a match for his might
And said, “Friend, I am frozen here.
My mother is gone. The good? Where?
For what reason do I go on
When the reason have passed along
The halls, rooms, mazes, and wide plains.
I have not love or truth obtained…”
“Blinded by the body so now.
Then what does the purpose amount?
You have said the good to be god.
Can not know good, believe in Good!
Faith, faith, faith is alike to truth
And loved far more by him than truth.”
Strength, wisdom, and temperance shined
By good, and faith, and truth aligned.
With good’s name the seraphim bowed,
Acquiesced to us and allowed
The portal into the fourth ring
Burst forth before us and opened.
Before we entered, my spirit sensed
It was nearly, completely cleansed.
The light within me sparked and grew
Luminous; yet, my body knew
Still holding me from purity
And my mind in perplexity
Over the dual existence
And how I was allowed persist.
Canto VII
Justice and the Judging of Kings
Words have no meaning, men have minds
And perhaps the poet no time
To work an end of flattery.
Words themselves conjure imagery.
If “an apple” the poet said
Would not one picture it as red?
Whether it red, yellow, or green,
Or said “a green apple.” Be seen
Regardless for an instant red.
Either hearing or the words read.
Though men take pleasure in eloquence
Poets should speak to importance.
Through a portal of the third gate
We appeared. Obeisance made
To a hammer wielding angel.
His wings and robe burned and blazed on
With light provoking our judgment.
Unsure, relenting, reverent
Moved not but bowing down before
The just ruler of the fourth door.
As he towards us made motions
And said that I was forbidden
Again to go, but did not strike
Or attack or begin to fight.
The seraphim of such power,
I know not how many hours,
Stood still and completely quiet
Contrasting the prior violence
I had suffered in other rings.
He stood fluttering his four wings.
We knew not how to gain entrance.
My friend would not leave my presence
Though he was allowed to go on.
For a good age we sat and thought.
Then time to him an answer brought.
He arose and began to tell
Loudly speaking to the angel.
“Seraphim who rules o’er justice.
We have proven our temperance.”
Then my friend by the hand brought me.
“Though his soul and humanity
Are connected, temperate still
Has been judged right by heaven’s will.
Does temperance proceed justice?
Being temperate have justice
To know good and bad in others.
For in him the soul too masters.
You are bound to heavenly laws,
And can not keep us from this wall.”
The angel subdued knelt and bowed,
Laying his hammer on the ground.
Unlocked the fourth of heaven’s rings.
Our search of justice there begins.
Through the wall into a vast plain
That across existence extends
We unto a mass of souls came
Where brother was the only name.
So joyous was that gathering
Like a well governed family
Where all is loved and all is known
And where they are becomes there home.
Countless souls surrounded a scale
That between good and bad did sway.
After a time a soul in white
Emerged and from him outshined light
And bid two come upon the scale.
Then in an instant disappeared.
I know not how long we waited
For there time is disconnected.
In bands of dialectic talked
Or around the white plains did walk
The souls until being summoned,
Discussing good heaven’s purpose.
Like a firm rock the saintly soul
Was judge of justice inside souls;
Bid us come up upon the scale.
Both of our lights to his was pale
Like fires compared to a sun
Or the many next to the one.
We were brought through a white tunnel,
Its top convex like a funnel,
And inside it we moved as light.
In an instant at judgment lied.
Seeing two pathways in the sky;
For in that realm all was sky.
One bellow towards nothingnessl
One above: infiniteness.
And one by one the new dead went
To either relief or torment .
To my guide said “Where can this be?”
“It must lie somewhere between
Where we were and where we have been.”
That old saint to me then informed
“This is where soul’s judgment is born.
You did escape this trial once.
Now come at first as a right judge
To of the deceased make measure
Of their earthly deeds and pleasure
And actions either bad or good,
Whether heaven or hell they should
Take reward or punished always
Beside great god most powerful
Or next the devil weak and null.”
The thirst of knowledge surpassed fear,
I not a prophet or a seer
Asked the saint “The devil is weak?
The lost angel: of man’s boon reeks
His sin and death and own dark greed.
How can one be not such as him?”
For the mysteries of heav’n hid.
Fit to know, I, but not all.
“Lost angel? There was never fall!”
Said the soul, lofty but now true
Never again deny he knew.
“As good is god, the devil bad,
Both existing always: they have
Balanced and gave life its purpose.
If good was all then life worthless
Makes right an opinion of truth;
Right by wrong is not absolute.
For if right: the only option
Is done by man is there option?
Weak only for being true bad,
Yet what choice did the devil have.
You know the good is powerful.
Its opposite then must be null.
Doomed to do wrong knowing it wrong.
Being bad, rejoicing in wrong.”
And for a time that soul drifted
As too did our thoughts rise and shift.
Now before us the dead in throngs
Grew restless and their orders long.
For during no judgment was made.
Once we were alike to those men,
Though their bodies had been long dead,
Souls, but with an ether taint.
Are just as sin wrought as humans.
That heavenly muse grant me aid,
For through the realms my thoughts have changed,
Breaking the firmament lost point
And became weak in earthly voice.
Where, there, I found no pain to say
Happenings or events explain
Here words seem find no avail.
In each letter think that I fail.
Bringing condemnation on me
By my mistaken blasphemy ;
Yet, for myself I do not care,
But the sin to judge unfair
Can never be removed in whole,
And it sits heavy on my soul.
Once perfected I had right
But not quite so being alive.
Please forgive my then, you great Good
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