Camp 16 November 2001
11/23/2001 05:16 a.m.
We were not far,
Just across the river,
But we camped
On the rocky heights
Above the dam.
And our vista,
Jim Bridger's
View southward
Of the Great Salt Lake.

And waiting for
The slow cook of coals,
We sparked fireworks
On the limestone upthrusts
Running strangely here
Like gray spines
Down through cedars
To the Bear River--
An icon of our Home.

Then afterward
By lantern light
We trekked across
The stony bench
And down the steepy
Slides and rocks
Along the deer trails
To the Indian Cave
(Mysterious at night).

And there we drove
Wild pigeons from
Their dungy perches,
Crept back to where
Dry bones disclosed
Some carnivorous den,
Felt the soot-like guano,
And found obsidian--
Proof that They were there.

Then back at camp
Once more, we
Piled the fire high
With pitchy pine,
And ceremoniously
With songs and words
Committed a tattered
Stars and Bars to
Respectful flames.

And in that
Reverent stillness
As the colors melted
Hotly into black,
We solemnly spoke
Our heart words
To our country:
Freedom, Opportunity, and
Ultimately only Home.

And in that spirit
We sought our
Ground-beds and watched
The meteors streak
Across the sky,
And heard that lonesome
Whistle blow and echo
Back and forth and forth
'Tween canyon walls.

We breakfasted
Around a sage smoke
Fire: pancakes, sausage,
Oatmeal, eggs,
And Mormon Coffee--
Sweet with honey
And canned milk--
A first adulthood
For the very young.

And a restless
Morning breeze stole
Down the canyon,
Pink-peach clouds
First showed
The rising sun,
And the metallic
Clang of rail work
Filled the silence.

But Powder House called,
She, our canyon booty
Would know us well
Ere midday, and
We ducked the fence,
Found ample passage,
And trooped downward
To her mystery,
Through her lore.

And satisfied,
We left some there--
To fish, or cross
The river to the falls,
But adultishly, I
Returned to fetch
The gear truck for the
Homeward bridge side
Rendezvous at noon.

And reluctantly
Reflectively driving
Past "The Camp,"
I saw there other boys
Playing pasture soccer
After an inside night
Of bed rest--breakfast
Well prepared
Within the lodge.

And I asked myself,
"This too is Scouting?"
And with my leaders
Still within my head,
I gathered my boys,
And looked to times
Beyond--content
"The Scouting Dream"
Should never end.


I am currently Blessed

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