A Sestina from Hell


Just a friendly word of warning:
Under no circumstances get lost
here on the edge of time
where there is only darkness
and you may not find your way again
once you have stepped off the path.

Narrow and winding is the path
half blocked by signs of warning
"Turn back! Do not come again!
Or you will be lost,
plunged into darkness
eternally and for all time!"

The passage of time
is a twisted path
leading only into darkness.
Death comes without warning.
All life is lost
to be reborn again.

And here we go again,
yet another time
praying for the lost
souls that strayed off the path
heeding no warning
and heading into darkness.

Absolute is the darkness,
morning will never rise again.
Hear the call of warning
that echoes through all time
"Do not follow the path
of those that are lost!"

And now that all is lost
the world has fallen into darkness.
Forever blocked now is the path,
you can't go back again.
They've got you this time.
Should have listened to the warning.

Heed the warning, follow the path
or you will become lost in the darkness,
as has happened time and again.