Charon mighty, unforgiving, atop the river Styx

ferries souls of long forgotten men--but if he’d newly met

them would their fates be as fixed as the rivers constant flow?
Or would man’s undoing sins be soon forgiven, overlooked?

Would their beatific selves like fireweed grow on burned and barren land?
Would they reach above the rank, bare shores and rise again like dryads new, reborn?
Would that river flow no more, dry up until left was only sand?

Perhaps perception plays a larger role in man’s so called predestined fate.
Perhaps like people that I've met were previously “dead,”
when I take the time to cherish their good and holy parts,
perhaps they do have good redemptive qualities that overcome their selfish greed,
perhaps man really is beautiful, simply as he stands untied and free.

But then what is this force that corrupts my fellow man?
What power universal that undoes with a silent hand?
What is this taint? I ask myself in deep contemplation.
Perhaps it does not matter, only that we focus on the deeds well done.
Hope that in the end full salvation will be won.
Would Charon ferry impure souls into dark abyss if he knew
that it was the impure world that caused them to foolishly imbue
themselves with untold greed, unclean forces misguiding unseen?

Woe to wretched man, Charon!
Forgive him for his impure soul!
Perhaps it would be you in that hateful river
if in a world such as this you guarded over as you do your river Styx.
Woe to wretched, naïve man.

Born into the world naïve, hopeful and wide eyed.
Believing all he sees as pure until misfortune does disturb.
Disillusioned, broken down, defensive he forgets his soul.

Evil seeps into his mind, provides a barrier for his heart.
He cannot feel pain, he thinks, if he’s hardened from the start.

What folly man is forced to live in—Harden and endure

or die and drown—never to be forgiven.