medieval christian hell has many
rings––
for virtuous pagans &
unbaptized children,
for the violent & the bestial,
the fraudulent & the
malicious.
to which, in our millennial
times we add a
ring for those who
die a violent
death––
for six year olds
killed by flying shrapnel,
wedding parties
snuffed-out by a
missile-strike,
young men, seduced
by glory to kill &
die.
& those who suffer
burning anguish for the
atrocious death of kin, can
also be found, howling for
peace in this ring of
hell.
next, there is the
special ring for
defense contractors &
their pasty-faced
share-holders & the
media & the political
opportunists who foment
hate.
theirs is the big-screen,
technicolor hell that
won’t go away–– in
endless over-amplified
sound.
a spectacular ring has been
reserved for
soldiers & terrorists who kill &
the commanders, imams,
politicos & voters who
compel them to
act.
by whose command
do we extinguish the
hearts of our
enemies?
how can we
permit this freaky-
rush of killing to go
on?
irradiated bullets will
ricochet around inside our
skulls until war
stops––
& we will truly taste no
peace.
if all this seems
familiar in our current
age––
for our terrible love of war,
we have established hell on
earth.