Premature Dismount

An image of relational grace,
vaulting toward a perfect 10...
then plummeting to the floor
bouncing up & back down again.

A couple well out of balance,
tiptoeing across life's narrow beam,
a seeming exercise of futility
living out the initial dream.

Both watching for faulty moves
and keeping an unhealthy score;
realization creeping steadily in...
no future is left in store.

Finally throwing up arms in surrender,
enough drinking from this poisonous fount,
now ending this broken routine for good
with a premature dismount.