In the silent depths where rivers flow,
Life's precious vessels begin to show
The wear of time, the aging strain,
As arteries harden, lose their refrain.
A silent thief, it steals away,
The vibrant rhythm of life's play.
Thickened walls, no longer bend,
As time and health begin to blend.
Atherosclerosis, its cousin near,
Lays its plaque, its weight severe.
Cholesterol, fat, their silent grip,
On arterial walls, they slowly slip.
Blood's passage, once so free,
Now constrained, its flow decree.
Organs starved, tissues cry,
As arteriosclerosis draws nigh.
Hypertension's shadow, lurking deep,
Heart attacks in silent sleep.
Strokes, like lightning, strike their blow,
As arteriosclerosis begins to show.
Yet hope remains in lifestyle's sway,
In choices made, day by day.
Diet, exercise, the healer's art,
Can mend the vessels, heart to heart.
Medicines, procedures, modern skill,
Work to thwart this silent ill.
In the dance of life, a fragile chance,
To defy arteriosclerosis's advance.
