Democracy in Hell
by flammeusgladius
DEMOCRACY IN HELL
Before the votes are tallied, you can tell
how wrong you were to bring things to a vote:
the Devil has democracy in Hell
and loves it. Keeping easily afloat
upon the Lake of Fire, he works the crowd:
“How wrong you were to bring things to a vote,
my friend! Down here, where everything’s allowed,
a fallen angel rises to the top:
upon the Lake of Fire, he works the crowd
confidently, just like a traffic cop.
Because they know they’re worked and love to know,
a fallen angel rises to the top
without dissimulation. On the go
forever, lost souls know that I’m their man
because they know they’re worked and love to know
I’ll wield the whip as freely as I can
forever. Lost souls know that I’m their man
before the votes are tallied: you can tell
the Devil has democracy in Hell.”
–Tom Riley
(First appeared in The Lyric, Summer 1988.)