Gates of Hell

There is nothing like
the big innocent eyes
of a young
inexperienced child.
They are wide
and open
starring at the world
with wonder.
Anything could be magic
anything...
But then
there is always that
gentle but nagging voice
sinisterly informing
that not everything
is as it seems
the world can be terrible-
it can hurt.
And slowly
hope fades,
like a life support patient
wasting away
in a bleak hospital room
until nearly all is gone.
Supposedly,
it says on the
gates of hell
"abandon all hope
ye who enter here".
As if our own world
is hell
hopeless.
But if
no one had ever told
that wide-eyed child
to give up their dreams
and wonder
they might just
hold on.