Gates of Hell

A Poem by Michelle Gent

My feeling on my grandmothers nursing home

Gates of Hell-

Gates of Hell are the opening doors of a nursing home
No need to ever have to imagine such a place
So obvious to me, purgatory's the demon's mouth I walk through
Whenever I go to visit my grandmother

Souls in torment scream out in agonizing pain
to no avail
Not my patient, besides I'm on a break
Or perhaps shifts are changing
They'll just have to wait

No comfort in sight sitting in own excrement
Zombies needing to take a number
And sit and marinate in ones own waste
Faceless drones that don't even matter
Besides it's not their family member

Dying slow dehumanizing deaths
Assistance comes in the way of fallen angels
Not allowing themselves to care
Possessing little to no conscience

To care would seal their own fate
Traumatizing sleepless nights
Snakes crawl into bed
Not giving a second thought to residents

Prisoners in chains
Begging and pleading to be released
Wishing to catch a fast train to Heaven

Hotel Hell-bent not the resort of choice
Guests grimace while they're in and smile on the way out
Concierge Lucifer not an accommodating host