Lifeline (Poetry)

It grows a little faint — life’s force
uncertain on the palm
as though skin change diverts its course
unsettles aging calm

What opportunity arose
to interrupt the plan
is lost in time — the path I chose
tailed off as it began

Erratic as a rambling stroll
my map long out of date
the picture now is less than whole
fresh turnings tease too late

Interpreting life’s dotted line
the fortune teller’s art
since stymied by old scars drawn fine
each one a new false start

A life fragmented — unachieved
those random goals unmet
and harder than at first believed
but blood’s still pumping yet