Meeting Fyodor in Heaven

By Vern Fein

Though named the laureate only of my street,
I intend to converse with many artists--
a never finished bucket list,
an unending dance card.  
Whom would you visit first? 

Dostoyevsky, my choice. 
I know I’d wait in long lines
unless appointments are allowed.

Fyodor and I, so much
in common—except talent.
Like that tortured, inspired writer, 
I always seek to discover 
if there is divine justice in the universes, 
drink my fill of spirits,
mesmerized to perdition
for letting table games
gamble life away, 
though I love blackjack,
more than his roulette.

Wayward poet, heretic! 
Do I mean to contend that scalawag 
would be ceremoniously ushered 
through the pearly gates by Peter? 
Yes, Fyodor did create
the faithful Alyosha,
decry the moral paucity of Ivan,
the hedonism of Dimitri.

Am I perfect? Be fair even though
it is not our decision at all. 
Twain said humans can’t judge
a frog-jumping match.

A retired special education teacher, Vern Fein has published over 250 poems on over 90 different sites. His first poetry book--I WAS YOUNG AND THOUGHT IT WOULD CHANGE--was released earlier this year.