Playing For Keeps

A poem written about the difficulties of a game you just can't win.

Let's play a game
Round and round we go
A slice down the center
The blood starts to show
As it trickles down
the newly opened skin
the knife enters again
who is going to win?
Another cut across
yet the vein is still intact
scars line the body
there's no taking them back
The heart is still pumping
there is life still inside
but the pain is beginning to show
for where does it have to hide?
Perhaps a cut here
will be the final blow
give it a few minutes
and then we shall know.
Maybe if it is moved
a little to the right
the knife will begin to carve
and the end will be in sight
The mind versus the body
who is going to win
If it's the body
then we'll have to play again.