Don't Walk Too Far Ahead

Don't walk too far ahead-
The time will come when cracking winds
Or shrapnel rain will sear our feet,
And rip apart our bloodied fingers
Grown calloused, now, grown up together
In twists like trees whose gnarled trunks
Fuse into one great, ugly length.
But for today, slow down your step,
With years still left,
Don't walk too far ahead

And if I go, if I cross
The land mine ditch before you do,
I wish you wouldn't race to follow,
Climb the banks, dig through the mud
Chasing after me.
On that day, slow down your step
And
Though I know you will,
Don't walk too far ahead

I'll go first, don't hold me back
But if I don't, then you should know
That I will chase your fading pulse
Turn my feet to face the sun-
That I'll be scrambling,
Racing after
If you walk too far ahead.