Friend and Enemy

I stare into death's eyes
On a daily basis
It's gotten no easier
From the first to the recent
Each one leaves it's horrible print
A vision burned in my mind
Like hell's searing blaze
Seared into my soul
As if burning at the stake
No oasis in the desert
No shelter in the storm
Only the calm as it gathers strength
Ready for the next onslaught
Searching for beauty, only finding truth
I've heard the saying, but see no proof
Surely the truth isn't always beautiful
But, just as sure, it's too much to bear
Walking that fine line between reason and wrong
Not really sure of what side I prefer to be on
Both have their strong points
Both are, in places, weak
In the end, one can only be sure of defeat
But there are losses and there are gains
And to taste victory, it's never too late
As long as there's breath, true hope remains
With more than enough reason to play the game
It's almost with a laugh
That I see death before me
Because a good friend sure
Makes a great enemy