When the next emperor dies
and arrives in Hades
there will be great applause

from the other emperors who  
arrived there before him.
They will drop pitchforks,

kneel in bonfire and bow
to their newest colleague,
the one for whom Satan

now rises and offers
his throne so the new man
can reign in glory as

Emperor of Hades until
someone more evil arrives,
someone whose glee for war

harmed even more people,
people with little to lose
except for their lives.

-- Donal Mahoney