Campfire

A long day outdoors behind us
everyone lounges around the dirt fire pit
roasting marshmallows and laughing
the light of day drifting over the mountains

Lights vanish as campers extinguish flames
some stumbling off to their warm tents
others staying to watch the embers glow
and listening to the quiet night

Finally as the coals grow dark
Dad says its past our bedtime
We complain but secretly long
for the warmth of our sleeping bags

Swallowing tired yawns
Dad silently lights his pipe
the smoke entwining with the dying fires
curling into the starlit sky

by Nicole Lamb