I strolled the lonely streets of Hades
Dimly lit and cold.
Passing by the bloodless faces
Of young as well as old.
To no one did they smile and nod,
No eyes did any meet.
All was frozen stiff, its odd,
Besides their shuffling feet.
No breath could be detected
That might carry a simple word.
My cries were silently rejected
By the dumb uncaring heard.
I tried to turn their low-hung heads
And shake their heavy hands
But not one could recognize me
Or slow down enough to try.
They were lost in either reverie
Or regret for what they once had,
A comedy, a tragedy, a reality,
Where one could say they tried.
I halted one and held him tightly
While the restless went on by.
He and I stood finally still
And I don’t know how or why
But he didn’t fight or struggle,
And I recall I heard him sigh.
While my warmth fed his body
I felt a heartbeat start with mine.
Then a tear fell from his eye,
Like a star it seemed to shine,
And I heard him whisper “why”
But no answer came to mind.