Pergatory

"After the first blush of sin comes its indifference." - Thoreau

Neither dirt-napping in the grave nor dancing in heaven.

Rolling dice that don't quite add up to seven.

Anted poker hand, all-in.

Paying full price for sin.

Nothing's on sale.

Stomp your feet and wail.

Sanctity concealed by twisted face and grimace.

No virtuous solace but bleak menace.

Sentenced to a grudge match.

Victory we try to snatch.

Do or die.

No how-to or why.

Spitting sin and dirt.

Suffer the hurt.

Pleading your case to no avail.

Shackled galley slave rowing as repentance sets sail.

Pelted with stones.

Clutching bones.

Amidst moans and groans.

No reservation required.

Muck and mired.

Lean on your crutch.

Don't expect too much.

Taste of fate to suffer.

This is the buffer.

Elevators that don't go all the way to the top.

Sirens and alarms that won't stop.

Stopping between floors.

Clawing at the doors.

Walking dead-end streets that have no names.

Playing cruel, childish games.

Take a dip in the river Styx.

Torn soul with forty licks.

No speedy drive-through to atone.

We do it alone.

With no cell-phone.

Last call,

on bile and gall.

Finish the story.

Gather your glory.

Welcome to ...

... pergatory ...

Author's Note

"We cannot well do without our sins; they are the highway of our virtue." - Thoreau

Reviews

[emmajoy]

Your Master Thoreau knew how to juggle words and turn them into wisdom taught or forgotten - at times, Pete! Your writing is what i think is called a 'tour de force' - the all of All, little missed, everything considered. The language used is extraordinary, in places hellish nightmare-ish, in others - the slow insipid decay of a beautiful haven. Dawns on me - the end of civilisation, anarchy in the heavens. Powerful stuff.. superbly written!

[Pete]

thanks em! a dark one for sure but i spill what's inside of me at any given time. interesting observation you make - universal truths cannot be denied or evaded, try as we/civilization may. why do we in our disobedience and rebellion try? human nature, i guess, in a fallen world. after all, the 'good book' does say that things will wax worse in the 'end times'. roman catholic doctrine acknowledges this place of cleansing and purification for sinners ... :)

[emmajoy]

it's a religiously befuddled world, still trying to sort the wheat from the ... Pete. Need to go!

[barleygirl]

This satisfies my current ghoulish itch! *heh! heh! heh!* A new approach to Halloween, completely your own & full of my favorite -- rhyming riffs! I love icky sentiments but this line felt too smooth for your tone: "Plot your course and set sail" . . . maybe more wicked & dynamic: "slap my face with a billowed sail" . . . (spark your own idea?) All in all, your construction is less packed & dense & complex -- I think it's better to "lighten up" with easier reading when doing playfully macabre pieces like this! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

thank you Margie! hmm, perhaps i will revisit that line - thinking ... 'take your place rowing on the slave ship and set sail' or something like that. appreciate your very detailed comments as always. be well ... :)

[andrew mitchell]

Dark anarchy and chaos in this fifty shades of dark, great imagery Pete!

[Pete]

perhaps too great - may appear like i've been there. Lol, thanks andrew. keep on keepin' on with a stiff upper lip brother ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Dark poetry, but delivered at its best Pete. You paint some pretty frightening images with your words. Sort of nightmarish. However, your choice of language is absolutely spot on for this write. You have created a good impression of what hell would be like. Very well penned.

Chris

[Pete]

thank you ever so much Chris. at the risk of sounding too morbid, perhaps this comes from a first-hand account - we all probably at least pass through there at some point in our lives. makes the other side feel oh so much better when we emerge. blessings ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many of us have battled with the pits of darkness Pete, this is relatable :))

[Kelly Scheppers]

Every line is masterfully delivered with a language I could only aspire to capture. But it is, without a doubt, your forte! Much respect, Pete!

[Pete]

thank you Kelly. sharing your writing, friendship and encouragement have all contributed. with much gratitude and blessings... :)