Green Bar William Shakyspeare, Newly Discovered Manuscript

[SSScout]

    All the world’s a trail,

And all the boys and girls  merely hikers;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one Scout in their time plays many parts,

Their acts being seven ages.

At first, the Tenderfoot,

Huffing and aching in the Patrol Leader’s gaze.

Then the willing Second Class, with his backpack

And shining new boots, creeping like snail

Willingly to camp.  And then the First Class,

Working like journeyman, with a woeful ballad

Made to his buddy’s ’ cookset. Then a Star Scout,

Full of fun tales and dirty like the worker,

Jealous in honor, sudden and quick to help,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the campfire’s smoke. And then the Life Scout,

In fair proud and downlooking to the Tenderfoot,

With eyes severe and mien of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the sage and sought after ,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;

His youthful face, well shaved, a world too wide

For his Eagle earned, and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is Scout Leader, signed and devoted he,

Sans time, sans money, sans gear, sans everything but Scouts to inspire.