Winter Hike

We are cub scouts and
All about ten years old,
Hiking in a long line
Up a frozen creek bed
Across a snowy field
Into the black trees.
Southern Illinois winters
Can be bitter cold,
The wind was steady
From the north and
We felt it as we walked.
We picked our way
Along the frozen surface
Around rocks and logs,
The woods closed in
Around us and we ached
Head to foot for warmth.
We reach an embankment
Out of the wind and
Gather wood for a fire,
Which soon blazes up.
We each take out our
Piece of flank steak,
Pierce a stick through
Two sides and begin to
Roast our supper over
The small cooking fire.
At the same time we
Moisten a handful of
Bisquick and affix it
To another stick
To lean it over the fire.
This we are told is
Civil War skush.
Keeping one or the other
From burning is quite
A task for ten -year-olds.
We put a bit of
Salt and pepper
On the broiled meat
Which we place inside
The browned Bisquick.
It tastes hot and
Incredibly delicious,
We each wolf down
Our creation standing
As close to the fire
As possible,
Glancing around at
The dense trees for
Lurking wolves and bears.
We feel proud of
Ourselves and ready to
Hike back out of
The wilderness on
Some farmer’s land.
We walk back down the
Creek bed to the yellow
Bus we arrived in
A few hours earlier,
And head to our
Pick up point to
Meet our anxious parents.
An adventure I would
Never forget and would
Strive to repeat my
Entire life.