Marbles (Circa '54) Poem by C R Clark

Recess time out on the schoolyard
A circle is drawn on the ground
In the center will rest the stakes of the game
On top of a long thin mound

Four young lads are gathered around
In their pockets they’re “diggin” deep
Each produces three shiny orbs
There’s Larry, Tommy, Freddy and Me

The orbs are lined up atop the mound
We draw straws to see who’s first
Then each of us retrieves our “Taw”
Our most prized marble on earth

Larry’s Taw is “The Solid Black”
Tommy’s, “The Old Red and White”
Freddy’s is “The Steelie”
And mine, the esteemed “Cat’s Eye”

I was never that fond of football
I Loved “Round Ball”, but had no gift
At baseball, I could “hold my own”
But, at marbles, I was deft

I went home that day, “a winner”
My pockets filled with the stakes
I’d won everything except their “Taws”
But those I would never take

When I got home, I realized
This lad was in trouble deep
When my mom saw my bulging pockets
She knew I’d been “playing for keeps”

Copyright C R Clark-3/8/07