She was born into a war
being waged in suburban America.

Its origins were untold.
Soldiers frequently forgot
on which side they had enlisted.
Skirmishes were frequent and furious.

The match had been on
at least these fifty years,
though battles were less often.
Sometimes there was a cease-fire.

Then came a loud lull…

She mistakenly believed
they were in a state of truce;
sent the watchman home and gave
the guard a well deserved night off.

Gigantic force
collided with her tired skull
before she knew the fight was back on,
and so made suddenly aware she sprang,

Further injury was abated for now,
but as time would tell only to her face.

Copyright 2014.  L.L. Shelton.