Author: Michael Mallace
Date: 11-16-02 15:42
My mother was a camper and counselor at Camp Mac-do Lodge in Lake Delavan, Wisconsin from 1946 – 1955. Like all of us she has very fond memories of her camp days. To this day, she still stays in touch with many of her camp friends.
With that in mind, I have been sharing with her many of the posts on this message board. Today she sent me this poem “To A Camper” by Mary S. Edgar. She had this in her camp file and has been saving it since her first year at camp when she was ten years old.
To A Camper
Mary S. Edgar
You may think my dear, when you grow quite old.
You have left camp days behind
But I know the scent of wood smoke
Will always call to mind
Little paths at twilight
And trails you used to find.
You may think some day you are quite grown up
And feel so worldly wise
But suddenly from out of the past
A vision will arise
Of merry folk with brown bare knees
And laughter in their eyes.
You may live in a house, built to your taste
In the nicest part of town
But someday for your old camp togs
You’d change your latest gown
And trade it for a balsam bed
Where stars all night look down.
You may find yourself grown wealthy
Have all that gold could buy
But you’d toss aside the fortune
For days ‘neath an open sky
With sunlight on blue waters
And white clouds floating high.
For once you have been a camper
Then something has come to stay
Deep in your heart forever
Which nothing can take away
And heaven can only be heaven
With a camp in which you play.
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