Styx

I opened my eyes
and the glaring light ached
my mouth was dry as dust
and every movement hurt

I opened my eyes
and my body shuddered with cold
my legs were numb
and my look was blurred

I closed my eyes
because what I saw
was way too atrocious
way to awful to be seen

I closed my eyes
I screwed them up tightly
till mysterious worlds opened up
worlds in which no one has ever been

I closed my eyes
and saw a blaze of colours
which would have imposed even God
With all the cinnabar and scarlet,
crimson and ruby, emerald and olive,
turquoise and jade, azure and indigo,
sapphire and cyan, cobalt and ultramarine,
royal blue, sky blue, violet blue,
steel blue, dove blue, pacific blue,…
in an endless ocean of ebony.

I opened my eyes again
and looked straight in his face
as he bent over me
with his wide black coat

I opened my eyes again
and his glowing eyes stared at me
as his cold, bony hand
took the obolus out of my throat

The barque began to sway
but Charon brought it safely ashore
The gory Cerberus awaited us
to escort me through the mighty door
Into the realm of shadows and eternity
Where the judges of death already waited for me

Oh Minos, Rhadamanthys and Aiakos
Pass judgement on my soul
Elysion or Tartaros?
I’ll play my role
I’ll bow to my fate
Let me drink from Lethe
Let me drink oblivion
Let me forget…