Staggering through premonitions of my death

We're learning the basics of our balancing act,
always slightly off, but keeping notes for next time.
The soundtrack to our lives is being played on repeat,
we're desperately trying to learn the words.
Finding out what each brushstroke feels like,
practicing until it's as natural as simply breathing.
Sparking lighters in the dark to guide us home, but we never really get there,
because each breath in is another step forward and each breath out is another step back.