A Battle for Minds

From the sound they've turned the organ on,
one side's experience of other battles
tells them there must be music for the fray.

The battle lines are drawn, but by the foe
as proof that a priori right is on their side
- although the blind watchmaker might not be.

Still more experience tells the Empire's soldiers
that the watchmaker's acolytes will rally
to whichever flag will suit them, come the day.

The cannon fire of the Cartesian Artillery may
cause doubt among both sides; any new-fangled
weaponry's use is a matter of trial and error, of course.

And among the wounded, maimed and shell-shocked,
the metaphysicians bandage or amputate on a whim
of ont- or cosmological preference.

The back and forth of sallies, raids and sorties
cut down theories with the slash of argument
while the shield of rhetoric tries its best.

In the fog of war and confusion of conflict
convictions are cast aside, soon there will
be no winners or losers, just a no-score draw.

Just the only certainty: that whoever is last
man standing will be a nihilist, although
some will argue for a posteriori's victory.