Ascendance

there are no flies in paradise
the drinks are truly fruity
the hosts, they're nothing if not nice
interpreting their duty
as the well being of each guest
those that arrive after a quest
and those called up too early
the victims of their circumstance
or in some cases, random chance
or worse yet, hurly burly

things are quite different down below
for one there's no hosannas
awash in warm volcanic glow
demonic pollyannas
toil endlessly for his return
bubbling cauldrons boil and burn
and Beelzebub and Mammon
each seeking favor with their lord
each falling of their own accord
plot pestilence and famine

and purgatory, your domain
it borrows from both places
on some days it's the devil's reign
on others, prayers and graces
which side wins out we've yet to see
perhaps that's all we're meant to be
a cosmic proving ground
the universe defines itself
put good and evil on the shelf
let love itself be crowned