In an easy uncomfortable truce
On friendly ground
But in enemy territory
For the whole world is No Man's Land
I raise my cup to you
Smile and laugh with you
All the while watching you
Sitting in the trenches
Anticipating your next move
Because unknown to most around us
We are at war with each other
And are even dumb enough to believe
That the other is not aware and doesn't see
There is a plan being hatched and someone has cooked up a strategy
The goal is control
And if not done right, you might as well give it away
So to avoid costly mistakes, we dance to silent war cries
Never charging, but moving melodically through the battlefield of life,
Hiding in traverses, bracing ourselves for the other's mental arsenal
Too many times, this one has been ill prepared
All but well equipped to handle such an enemy brigade
With the most awesome of artillery
Ready to plow over a valiant stand of confidence
I must keep in mind, these are veterans I'm dealing with, after all
But already, at this age I sit,
I've served more tours than most in any military branch
What saves me is experience and anticipatory coping
And the casualties not manifesting physically
My mind, though, has died a thousand times
And this time, I have my emotional armor
Without it, one is pervious to 50 caliber judgments
Tripping landmines of guilt and self destruction
Tanks harboring victimized hallucinations
And campaigns of delusional self righteousness
Falling to such psychological weaponry means the battle is lost
But the demonstration is far from over
You, my enemy, are my case study
And seeing as how I am already shell shocked from never ending combat
Only seems to make sense to continue to wage war against you
Because your white flags of surrender are lined with deceit
And your handshake wreaks of your arrogance
Arrogance that tells your ego,
Your ploy to reverse psychology me is working
And victorious you will be once again in gaining control of my psyche
Your pretentiousness is the crack in your constitution
The weakness in your warfare
Too haughty to realize your comfort in my lowered guard
Which isn't lowered in the slightest
Is the set trap snagged and the key to your defeat
...By any means necessary...
A game of chess
Strategy
Mental psychology
Check
And checkmate