When We Were Girl Scouts

When we were Girl Scouts,
our tired feet pounding the trails
and wonder swirling about us,

we climbed the lookout tower
to see the place where fires
and Smokey the Bear
knew better.

The ladder
was so tall
the girl
with braids
ahead of me froze.

Her fear held me back.

I wanted to race around her to the platform
and gaze out at the beauty above the trees;
gasp at the way clouds
skimmed the tops
of all the burning
torches of pine.

Instead,
I perfected my calmest voice
and talked my way into reason.

The view
was amazing
and I learned the power
of the sound of my voice
over  Baby Jesus prayers
and the threat
of death by flames.