THE LOST PEOPLE

'Abandon hope all ye who enter here...'

We're like all those lost people, pushed
through the doorway, not unwillingly perhaps,
but not choosing it either, and forced to queue
in crowds of millions, fanned by flames,
for a small boat to come and take us over

that dark river, who have to pay - no refunds
ever offered - everything we have
for the privilege, who, having been too rushed then, too despairing, or unable
to understand the language, hadn't read

the writing above the door but are reminded
of it later, too many times to count, in too
many ways, who can't deny the truth
of the statement, can't argue with the words,
but still refuse to believe them, knowing

this isn't actually hell we're in, despite
appearances, and knowing we've abandoned
so much already, we'll keep replying to
those words in stone we won't be branded by
that we won't abandon hope as well, not now.