The War of the Mind

I am you -- you are me.
Two halves of the same being, 
          yet completely different.
Never here nor there,
          personalities clash, we fall back.
Marching to the same beat,
          living the same war; living, breathing,
          and watching others fall --
The casualties all fall down.


You and I, we are closer than others.
No one sees our bond, no one sees
          us fight the same battle.
Against each other, yet step-in-step,
          neck-in-neck, through-and-through.
Emotions flare, tears fall,
          words are thrown carelessly.
All of this we share with the 
          beat of one heart --
The war of the mind.


Silently, the attacks begin.
Creeping slowly, wordless, breathless
          for the kill shot.
Which side will be the first to give in? --
          who will be the first to die?
Exhausted, scared, hopeless and
          frightened ... it's been long enough.
Couldn't we stop this war?
          Enough casualties have been shed.
There are only two left.


Lurking in the shadows, waiting,
          a glimpse of the other!
"Attack!" we shout in unison,
          mockingly -- we lunge in.


An eruption of screams ...
A few spatters of tears ...

          The final beat of the war drum ...


And an eerie, echoing silence.