The Field Trip

Saturday dawns clear
with a bluish yellow glow.
Not a cloud in sight,
they know it's good to go!

Backpacks stuffed with gear,
trail mix and first aid,
a change of socks and underwear;
all preparations made.

The eagerness that's in their eyes
shows the spirit of their youth
as on their bikes they hop
riding as a group. 

Somewhere down the trail
the leader halts the ride,
they're all off like a shot
with excitement they can't hide.

Out comes the list of things to find;
they'll stash them one by one,
make sure to search the forest
till all the list is done.

Bark off of a paper birch,
—but please don't strip the trees —
a little clump of lichen;
some moss the brightest green;

Some pine cones on a twig
or loose ones off the ground;
make sure to get each different kind
of cones that can be found!

A sprig of cedar; needles from
spruce, tamarack and pine;
a poplar leaf, some bracken fern,
— now what's left to find?

Don't forget the flowers,
white, yellow, pink and blue;
and that little shelf-like fungus
that grows on tree trunks too.

Now head back to the leader
to see who filled their list,
— to spend a day with nature
is a thrill no child should miss! 



september 2005
©Janet Reid






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