When I was little, people and my parents 
Told me that hell is a lake of fire that never runs dry, 
A tormenting abyss where souls are trapped, 
Endlessly dying yet never truly free— 
A cruel fate reserved for the wicked among us. 

But as I grew older, I noticed a different truth: 
We all lived in hell, a reality we cannot escape; 
The hell of greed, where hearts turn to stone, 
The hell of lies that weave webs of deception, 
The hell of killings, where innocence is sacrificed, 
The hell of corruption that poisons our very souls, 
The hell of chaos that reigns in our daily lives, 
And the hell of self-guilt that gnaws at our conscience.

We torment one another with our actions and words, 
Killing spirits just to feed our insatiable desires; 
Yet they say hell is not real—just a myth to scare; 
It’s like snow and blood, as white as purity and as red as sin—

No one is purely white nor solely red; 
We are both light and shadow entwined in this existence, 
That’s just the reality we choose to believe or deny.

Forever am I a Christian—this faith a double-edged sword; 
It stands against me in moments of doubt and despair. 
And we say hell is not real—feel the pain of others and tell me I lie; 
For in their suffering lies the truth we often overlook.

The salvation of man can be elusive, hidden beneath layers of denial—  
Till you realize where you truly are in this world;  
Yet I say these words and get laughed at for my beliefs—  
Smiles are often masks concealing deeper wounds,  
While tears become my strategy to fight against apathy.

Hope is a block that keeps me grounded in turmoil,  
Fate is my sin—a burden I carry with pride;  
Destiny is my goal—a glimmering light on the horizon—  
And hell is the road I had to pass before reaching salvation.

They believed hell is not real—that's because their lives have just begun;  
They have yet to feel the weight of existence pressing down on them—  
To navigate through the darkness that lurks behind every corner;  
For every joy carries an echo of pain waiting to be acknowledged. 

In this world where kindness often feels like a rarity,  
I search for meaning amidst the chaos and confusion;  
Each day is a battle fought with tenacity and faith—  
To rise above the ashes of despair and find my voice.  

So here I stand, unyielding in my conviction,  
Embracing both light and darkness as part of my journey;  
For within this struggle lies the essence of being alive—  
The understanding that even in hell, there exists hope.  

And though many may dismiss what they cannot see or feel,  
I know that salvation begins with acknowledging our truth;  
To face the demons within and around us with courage—  
For only then can we transform our shared suffering into strength.  

---

-gifttaylor