Retribution
If you believed, it would be easy
to populate Hell. So many figures,
mythical, historical, contemporary,
have earned a place there,
which doesn't exist.
The vain and clueless
Agamemnon would have his circle.
His cuckold, chickenshit brother,
Menalaeus, his special room.
Hitler would surely have a place
near the fanning wings of Satan
adjacent to Custer and and Pol Pot.
There could be a Reagan circle
with a Maggie Thatcher suite.
Republican members
of House and Senate
could wander that ring, forever
thirsting for the milk of human kindness
they spilled, un-given, across
Monsanto cornfields tended by Con Agra.
Easy awards of endless penance--
anger management a la Alighieri—
in a vivid but imaginary justice.
to populate Hell. So many figures,
mythical, historical, contemporary,
have earned a place there,
which doesn't exist.
The vain and clueless
Agamemnon would have his circle.
His cuckold, chickenshit brother,
Menalaeus, his special room.
Hitler would surely have a place
near the fanning wings of Satan
adjacent to Custer and and Pol Pot.
There could be a Reagan circle
with a Maggie Thatcher suite.
Republican members
of House and Senate
could wander that ring, forever
thirsting for the milk of human kindness
they spilled, un-given, across
Monsanto cornfields tended by Con Agra.
Easy awards of endless penance--
anger management a la Alighieri—
in a vivid but imaginary justice.
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Author's Note
Dante punished many in his Hell. Good idea.
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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Goodness, here I was looking forward to hell to meet all these good and interesting folks denied paradise. I don't want to go to the place you envision, for sure. Maybe it's got to be paradise after all, where, if you were particularly deserving, you could get a front seat (in the Middle Ages anyways) to watch the agony of your enemies down below. *
Nice take. Enjoyed this cast of characters.
Thank you, Beate and Sam for visiting my underworld. Be sure to tip the ferryman.
There ought to be an especially nasty place for fans of Michelle Bachmann. *
Ah, if it was that easy..."a vivid but imaginary justice." Yes, yes. Great one.
What a nice legal way to deal with these little evils. I'm off to build my own hell...
Thank you.
Jake. Yes.