there are no heroes in hell
no golden men to lift The Troubles
upon sweeping shoulders
and bear them away
no soft-bearded men
drop into the furnace
no willing stokers
create the burn
and in this valley of fired rock
all to be seen
are ordinary fellows and plain girls

there is no salvation
in barbed wire
wrapped upon hollow ribs
broken hunger does not give prayer flight
and winged despair carries us all crippled
into that emptied darkness

there are no prizes in death
closed eyes bring no release
and answers come slowly
to the newly dead
if at all

there are no angels
i can see no angels