they lied when they said
hell is the afterlife
that inferno is
felt only when the
blood is pumping
your soul dead
but your pulse
is loud
consistent
beating

hell is loss and
having to still
get up every morning
and do all the trivial
and offensive tasks
that keep you
somewhat afloat
even though there
is no more sky
there is no ground

the only thing beneath
my weathered boots is
the bottom of
everything and
a stack of bones.