Walking The Great Glen Way Poem by cahen thrips

This was hardly a path less trodden;
we followed it nevertheless,
you always a few paces before me -
eyes fixed on a vanishing point
where kerbs of the trail coalesced.

That was always our chosen way;
you saw what I couldn't see,
so I followed in your footsteps
and all the way along our journey
you stayed in front of me.

(I was minded to create a video
so I stopped every thousand treads
to take another photograph;
you strode impatient onwards,
as ever keeping just ahead)

There are too many pictures of you
walking away from me,
kicking up dust with every step,
your slender back set
as if you knew what was bound to be.

O you were always ahead of me
in everything you'd attempt.
I lagging behind in your slipstream -
I should have seen that you were sure
to be the first at the very end.

December 2022