Defense

There is no one beside me
or in front of me
or behind

I stand
alone
on this battlefield

my only
weapon
- my mind

No one will save me
or rescue me
I only have myself

I draw a deep breath
and exhale through
a broken smile

Nervousness
fear and courage
race through my being

I take the step
of
inevitability

I have to face these demons
and slay them
or be slain

I must fight them one by one
or me versus them all
together

Guerilla warfare
snipers
hand to hand

it is my battle
and it wages on
every day

I must fight the good fight
not for honor, or country or
god

but for myself
in order to

live

Revisting a past connection