Per Cod and Jeff Monroe

TALK ABOUT THE ENEMY

Nemo wrote:

tear running down my cheek
tear ripping through my soul
what to do
when the enemy is within
pulling mind and sinew together
to face one more day
for others
for I would as soon lay
let the sea take my soul
the elders move on to peace
placing their burden upon
the child now grown
to parent
to grandpa
alone to carry
carry the sorrow
carry the fates
carry the wisdom
in the face of questions of life
simple man with simple answers
do not always fill the gap
what if the enemy is within

to which Piddi replied:

the enemy within
makes for fight hard and long
for he know you in and out
attacks where you are weak
retreats where you are strong

Nemo responded with:

and so we seek
allies from without
touch of a lover
hug of a sibling
kiss of a child
console of a friend
linked in amour of caring

while Piddi observed:

some seek cover in the bunker
waiting for the barrage to end
hoping that the walls will hold
thinking there’s no allies
no one to understand
or simply hold their hand

and Nemo pondered that:

from this enemy
there is no comfort in bunkers
you only take him with you
alone into the fastness of your soul
force him from your darkness
to another’s blinding love
reduced to a shadow
that can haunt
but not master

to which Piddi agreed and finally admitted:

bunkers are of little comfort
this I know is true
for I have seen a few,
under the sea
the silence
deafening to the ear,
under the ground
the shaking and the roar
of shells landing near,
but by far the most I fear
the gruesome sound
of the screams I hear
of the lost souls I meet
in my most troubled sleep