Red Rover, Red Rover

Send someone right over but

first

two captains alternate choices

of their teams membership,

not unlike the NFL draft except

no media attention

            second

each time lines up facing each

other at a suitable distance,

not unlike a football kickoff except

no sportscasters’ gratuitous comments

            third

the teams join hands

definitely unlike a football game

imagine sportscasters’ reactions in the booth

            fourth

one team calls out red rover red rover

send (insert name here) right over

            fifth

(insert name here) makes a mad dash

to the opposing team with fixed purpose:

break through the joined hands

breakthrough, successful: (insert name here) takes

an opposing team member back to his/her team

breakthrough, failed: (insert name here)

is absorbed into the opposing team

            sixth

the other team gets it turn,

not unlike what happens after a touchdown

or safety in football

            seventh

repeat as often as necessary

until no one is left on one side

while the other side celebrates

its scorched earth victory, not

unlike American politics,

another playground game,

just more expensive.

Tweetspeak Poetry is playing games this week, specifically games on the playground. Heather Eure has a poetry prompt for a didactic (teaching) poem on a playground game. So hopscotch right over to Tweetspeak Poetry, where you can either dodge the ball or hide and seek. Tag – you’re it!