Gravel crunches from heel to toe
Counting its own cadence
For the group on the trail
To fall into step, synchronized
As the mind
Follows the body’s lead
Into a consistent rhythm
On the straight path forward
Mountain peaks up ahead
And tall evergreens on other side
Some fallen, long since withered
Crunch, crunch, crunch
Like counting one, two
And then back to one, over and over
With the nice scenery around
To chase away any possible complaint