The Games People Play

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 29 Apr 2013
  • 2285 reads
12 comments
 

'Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away
into that other room'
Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918

Blasted my eardrums, you two
when you were kids.

‘Keep the racket down!’ I’d yell.

‘Only playing!’ you’d yell back,
music blaring from that old hi-fi;
ballerinas you’d be, in Swan Lake...

Murder in the Dark – your favourite,
but I banned it...too noisy by far.
Speedily replaced by Hide and Seek...

You’d be creeping downstairs...
avoiding the fourth from the top;
the one that squeaked.

Then, there was your sister, counting...one,
two, three, at a hell of a lick.

‘Coming ready or not!’

You’d call her a cheat for counting too fast.

She looks for you, still...you know;
choosing to believe you’ve just
‘slipped away’, and that one day
she’ll find you, in that ‘other room’.

Trouble is, if that day comes,
I’ll have lost both of you.

Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by The Walrus on
Love it, Tina, it took me back to my childhood and at the same time reminded me of my own kids.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, so much, Walrus. They do say childhood is a place and not a time, so I am pleased I transported you back there, if only for a while. Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
You certainly have happy memories, even though bitter-sweet, – and a knack at telling them that others, like Walrus and I, can so enjoy, reminding of the details of childhood games that are so easily forgotten. regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Good to hear from you, Rhiannon, and I hope you are well and enjoying spring, such as it is;-) Pleased you enjoyed, and you are so right about childhood, and all those games;-) They do fade from memory so quickly, and it's good to be reminded, once in a while. All the best. Tina

 

Submitted by Syphon on
Very well crafted silver spun sand captured some beautiful childhood moments there but with a haunting quality about it. very much enjoyed, cheers S

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Many thanks for reading, and for taking the trouble to comment so positively. Really do appreciate it, Syphon;-) Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on
This is unbelievable. The pared down words, the simplicity of it, whilst expressing such loss through those childhood games. I sob at much of your beautiful work Tina, but your memories and the telling of this poem has finished me for tonight.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
I really appreciate your words, Vera, and thank you for them. Tina

 

Submitted by Wes on
This was well done, Though I had to look up the game http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Murder-in-the-Dark the game. We don't have that here lol ...Wes

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Hi there, Wes...Yes, Murder in the Dark, used to be such a popular party game, here...not sure if it still is, but I guess it's sure to be;-) Many thanks for your interest. Tina;-)

 

Submitted by InspiredWriter on
Your poems never fail to amaze me, SSS. Another excellent addition to your collection. IW

Noah

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
IW - your kind words mean a lot, and I thank you for them. SSS;-)