This summer
evening settles down.
Orange smoke
from crackling campfire
Floats through
Cascade air.
“Experience of a
Lifetime” sign
Swings back and
forth on it’s rusty hinges.
Ten o’clock.
The
campers of Cabin 4 turn from the fire’s warmth
And step into
the shadows, towards their temporary home.
Their faces beam
with a pure, joyous light,
Like radiant,
match-lit candles entering the starless night.
Ecstatic, they run
about playing Pterodactyl and Kum-Cha
With best
friends made in a day,
Creating memories that will survive eternity.
The children eventually
settle down in creaky bunk beds
As Noodle lolls
them to a solid slumber
With tales of
Peter Pan and Cinderella.
At last, Camp Dudley comes to rest
In the deep-cast
shadow of Kamiakin’s crest.
The familiar full
moon stands guard,
Mirrored off Clear Lake.
With sweet
dreams of today’s adventures:
Hiking Round Mountain and daring the Leap of Faith,
Campers sleep
soundly ‘til morning
When the first
bird sings.
-Elizabeth Daley
