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games

The Ferryman’s Arms - by Don Paterson

{ Poem }

About to sit down with my half-pint of Guinness
I was magnetized by a remote phosphorescence
and drawn, like a moth, to the darkened back room
where a pool-table hummed to itself in the corner.

The Plinky-Boat - by Jen Hadfield

{ Poem }

Something near to true
night-darkness. The children
are playing the Plinky-Boat –
a xylophone made
from a reclaimed yoal

Rounders in the Dark - by Eleanor Livingstone

{ Poem }

The circle shrinks
/ as players one by one
/ are summoned by a shout;
/ till in the gloaming none remains
/ to catch the…

Celestial Planisphere, a glow-in-the-dark jigsaw for ages 7+ - by Sarah Stewart

{ Poem }

That box held the moon and the sun and more,
a stash that made you superheroic,
expert on constellations and the zodiac,
the universe studding your bedroom floor.

Hanging On - by Pauline Prior-Pitt

{ Poem }

I’m hanging on to your early days
/ when you can’t wait for me to arrive
/ for cuddles and tickles and…

Charades with Freya (7) - by Diana Hendry

{ Poem }

Animals are easy. I can do penguin waddle,
/ hoppy frog, snappy croc. And Actions – all
/ those ings – dancing,…

To Any Reader - by Robert Louis Stevenson

{ Poem }

As from the house your mother sees
/ You playing round the garden trees,
/ So you may see, if you will look
/ Through the…

The Swing - by Robert Louis Stevenson

{ Poem }

How do you like to go up in a swing,
/ Up in the air so blue?
/ Oh, I do…

Chai ya Jioni - by Euphrase Kezilahabi

{ Poem }

Wakati tunywapo chai hapa upenuni
/ Na kuwatazama watoto wetu
/ Wakicheza bembea kwa furaha
/ Tujue kamba ya bembea yetu
/ Imeshalika na imeanza kuoza
/ Na bado kidogo…

The Death of Old Men - by Non-Scottish anonymous

{ Poem }

Old Henri is dying.
/ Children play tag in the dust.
/ And we, whose world is next,
/ sit with him under the tree
/ and watch…

Circle and Rectangle - by Maya Sarishvili

{ Poem }

As a child I existed in just these two shapes:
/ Outside – the round yard of the children’s playground,
/ Inside – the…

Veredas de Buenos Aires - by Julio Cortázar

{ Poem }

De este texto nació un tango,
/ Con música de Edgardo Cantón
/
/ De pibes la llamamos la vedera
/ y a ella le gustó que…

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Scottish Poetry Library
5 Crichton's Close, Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2021.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
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