Of my earthly fame you already know

If the Divine Comedy you chanced to read

Of Hell's cold darkness and Heaven's eternal glow

 

You should surely think that I am now dead

However, my experience runs counter to this story

Without that wisdom I should be dead indeed

 

My soul lives yet venturing through Purgatory

Until I rise in Heavenly resurrection

In word and deed bestowing to God the glory

 

Fruitless to all are hours spent in vain reflection

Of my life's dark and dreary sinful years

My efforts are better spent in my soul's correction

 

Yet a valuable opportunity to me appears

To use the skill which God to me has gifted

I live eternally thus freed from mortal fears

 

In the same way that Beatrice from sin uplifted

Me, by use of Virgil as my guide

To by use of words well-sifted

 

Purged of selfish thoughts and sinful pride

Speak to dying men alive. A dead man living

Has time and experience on his side.

 

Though to outward looks one may be thriving

Oft sin lurks insidious like a cancer.

All men are in need of God's forgiving

 

Outside of Him man's dead state has no answer.

I too, guilty of lust, pride, godlessness needed

God to cleanse me of rot like a surgical lancer.

 

Oft I fell to sin, Beatrice's voice unheeded

Which would have kept me on the righteous path

With wrongful desires my poor heart was seeded

 

Most will mock this poem with a scornful laugh.

I would advise them to save their precious breath.

There time is up so soon just do the math

 

If they are still subject to ever-looming death.

What joy they seize in life is all they get

Though they may outlive the years of Seth.

 

All too soon their choice will become regret

Without the blood of Jesus Christ to save.

Till you die your destiny is to you unset

 

Whether to life eternal or hellish grave.

Worry not that your sin is now too great

A sinner great am I which he forgave.

 

The heart cannot be won by long debate,

and I am sure you have earthly matters to attend.

So I will journey on towards Heaven's gate,

 

And bring this poem to its end.