Camp Fire Copyright © Sally Anne Adams 2011

Kumbaya my Lord we sang
around the dancing flames
our bottoms on the clay.
Kumbaya my Lord we let
the notes all high and bright
pierce the night and reach the star
beneath the eyebrow of the moon.

Someone’s crying Lord knows who
it never would be dry-eyed
Jenny Jones she learnt to breathe
it in and sing it sweeter
than the robin or the boy
soprano singing
round another fire.

Someone’s praying Lord knows who
it never would be pout-lipped
Jenny Jones she learnt to spit
it out and ask it quicker
than the vicar or the boy
soprano singing
round another fire.

Someone’s dying Lord knows who
beneath the eyebrow of the moon
it always would be air-head
Jenny Jones she learnt to break
the rules. The devil’s child plays
with fire. The boy soprano
always would sing deep and low
around another fire.