This nightmare as tall flames

skidded over the spires of the city

I found next to a spade in hell

an ivory doll,

the white angel as it turned out,

and in the flaming heat

I pondered where all the other angels were,

hiding up in heaven

on their white and gold thrones,

many of them worried

about the Wicked One,

who was burning in hell,

and all of them secretly fearing

the moment when the red Devil

would march out of nowhere

and advance towards the gates

with his distinctive stride

traveling forward, then hiding

before advancing again–

the destructive, evil things he chooses to do

over and over in the dark volcano of my hell.