One Step Behind

It was a rainy night out on the moors On roan-backed steeds we met Lost my breath to your steely eyes And hair so glistening wet. But now it’s all come to a head The postures and the lines Yet you’ll still walk with quiet grace And me one step behind. For many years you called me friend And came to me to weep You never did once have to fear For somewhere warm to sleep. But now it’s all come crashing down In silence and in sighs Yet you still stride with smiling face And me one step behind. So many times I’d comfort you Hold you in my bed Let you brace yourself on me Then watch you leave with them. But not my patience has run out And loss will fade with time, As will the walks in meadowed vales With me one step behind. It’s hard to wish you heartbreak Or loneliness when old It’s me that shall not smile It’s I that has grown cold But the price of unrequittance Of letting you inside Makes my boot splash in the mud, One step to the side…