The Race through the Forest

You’d had no idea how fierce
Racing the forest could be—

Yes, that’s correct—not racing
Each other to the far side

Of the venomous woods, but
Racing forest strategy

To occupy the cliff’s edge
Wholly and successfully

Before sunlight’s gone again,
Before you or your woods end.

Now you know which race is meant,
Don’t you? Not the metaphor

For who leaps through the door, but
Who opens or is the door?