all this

it doesn't matter where it all came from
or where it's all going to
where the i is i
and where you is you
where the start is and the end
where both light and dark are true
it doesn't matter how many die
or how many make it through
how many are left frozen
in a god-forsaken salute
to the elements and to wonder
to a final cold comfort
to malice, hate and good
where forgiveness
where salvation
where lies
the sacred river
or who concocts
the sacred brew

it doesn't matter what is this
or that or these or those
dear bundle
dear ball
dear electronic hive
dear desperate strife
dear sufferer
dear cosmic dust
dear life
it doesn't matter what when how or which
it doesn't matter who where or why
all this

all this
is lost
all this
is ours
all this

a cloud of atoms
each shadow
a phantom
each form
each man
each us

all this