Journey
There is an Inferno,
Which surrounds my heart,
Guarding its beating soul
With a treacherous path
That many may enter.
But only one will reach the center.
Dare you attempt the journey?
You must pass through eight levels.
Be careful,
Pay close attention,
For you may encounter
Traps and snares.
However,
The treasure at my heart
Is more precious than
Gold or jewels,
Fame or fortune.
It is priceless.
I wish you luck.
First, there is Limbo.
You gain access easily,
As everyone can.
There is chaos and confusion
Everywhere you turn.
If you understand
The words written above the gate,
You may proceed
To Light.
Here is an image
Of stunning beauty and power,
A glimpse of the treasure at my heart.
You may reach this place
And freeze with desire.
But if you do,
There you shall remain.
For lust will not open the next gate.
If you can see beyond the outer view,
You will approach
A Feast.
You see a table laid
With delicious treats and delights,
All morsels of what my heart gives,
Sharing with others.
Sit down at the table.
Sample what is offered
And discover what will be given to you
If you succeed.
But if you become consumed,
Gluttonous and thriving on what is there,
Using it for your personal gain,
You will not pass onward
To the lush garden.
Here there are little treasures,
Little hopes and dreams
Of mine
That are precious,
Revealing more of my heart.
There are also little nooks
Where my fears and shadows dwell.
Venture within.
But do not seek to discover them
And attempt to use them against me,
Or the next way will be barred.
At the bank of a flowing river,
A small boat awaits you.
Give the boatman a coin.
He will grant you passage
To flow deeper
Through the path to my heart.
On this journey,
You will see memories of mine
Float to the bubbling surface.
Many will make you cringe,
Please bear them.
See them, try to understand them.
Do not throw yourself into the waters in despair,
Never reaching
The City of Dis
Where there you will see tombstones.
It is a place that once was
And now is gone.
Tombs of those I loved
And lost, forever
Lingering in the place of endings.
There are spirits,
Figures, angels and demons
Of my past
That will speak to you
If you will listen.
Some will tell lies of me
Others my truths.
Whom you believe will determine whether you
Find your way
To an Island surrounded by the river Phlegethon.
It is a battlefield of soldiers
With war exploding around you,
Unforgiving and relentless.
You may wonder what they are fighting for.
Both sides fight for truth.
Their truths are identical,
Yet still they fight.
Observe this battle.
Learn their beliefs.
My heart feels what you decide,
And if she deems your truth worthy,
You may continue
To the Malebolge.
It is large pit,
Shaped like an ampitheatre.
If you look down inside,
You hear voices crying out.
Crying, screaming,
Shouting to be heard.
Their regrets for what they had done
Fill your ears.
They wish to escape the pain
That they brought upon themselves.
Do not listen,
Do not help them,
For they are not real.
They want to drag you down with them
And keep you with them for eternity.
I beg you listen to yourself.
Listen to your heart.
Feel it beat, feel it pulse.
Block all sights and sounds.
Close your eyes
And walk forward.
Let it guide you on the final path
To warmth.
A heavy silence,
A deep sense of calm.
No more screams, no more pain,
No more worries.
Just stillness.
You open your eyes and see blackness.
You feel lost.
You do not know what will come next.
Then you see a bright flash.
You hear something.
You feel something soft brush against your face.
Another flash.
And lo, out of the black,
Something approaches.
Slowly, languidly,
Softly humming a melody,
Pure and beautiful.
She is the most beautiful woman
You have ever laid eyes upon,
Clothed in a shimmer of red.
As she smiles, everything glows
And is filled with light,
All the way through you to your own beating heart.
She holds out her hand,
Hoping you will grasp it
And let her lead you.
She welcomes you
To the paradise that is
My heart.
©JLThomas,1162010
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