No One in Particular

no one in particular
no one with a specific face
nor with a heart
fights this war
yet
it is fought nonetheless

we fight this war
with many intentions
none of them ever clear
we have our reasons
sometimes loud
sometimes hidden
none of them ever understood

we fight this war
against no one in particular
we fight it against everyone
and against ourselves

the fabric is not just torn
it is ripped to shreds
and our nakedness exposed
in its bitterest brutality

no one knows
how it happens
it’s just there
relentless and unforgiving

we don’t need weapons
any temptation
is lethal enough

most certainly
this is a case
where the sum
is greater than its parts
though the result
is less than
even opposite
what is intended

we mean no harm
yet with blind but potent skill
we are paving
the road to hell
with emptiness
that begets emptiness
burying ourselves
under our own path