The Unseen One

He rules the realm where humans dwell without heartbeats,
monarch of the underworld,
known as Hades and Pluto, name meaning, The Unseen One,
who won victory over the Titans that controlled the universe
with his brother gods, Zeus and Poseidon.

His hand took reign upon the afterlife
while his brothers claimed the sky and sea,
Greek and Romans giving the place of his dominion,
vivid details about paradise of Elysian Fields
and condemned existence in Tartarus.

For tales woven by Greece story tellers
this kingdom he possessed
was a location of vague geography,
called Garden of the Hesperides.

In his eternal lair
five rivers the spirits would confront,
Acheron for sorrow, Cocytus as lamentations,
Phlegethon made of fire, Lethe flowed with forgetfulness
while Stix bubbled with hate.

Other areas also greeted the dead,
of pools to erase memory and one for initiates of mysteries
to imbibe of wisdom’s waters.

Three judges served watch over the decease mortals
doling out punishment and reward,
eternity spent in torment or peace
as the triad Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus
did thus accord.

Minds of mortals filled with magical dreams
living out their lives
aware that this god
stood watch beyond the grave
ready to treat each being
by his divine desires.