to make it to heaven
you have to wade through hell
the pearly gates are hidden inside the gaping maw of a black sea monster
and with just you
your two hands
two feet
left brain
right brain
you have to walk through the fire
feel the parts of you which are not essential burn away
and by the time you're through hell
you realize that heaven isn't a place
it's person you saw in the mirror all of those years ago
that the lives we live imprisoned on the other side of the glass