Marbles (A Child's Cadence) Poem by Rob Clarke

Pharaoh's children played with these
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Down upon sand dusted knees.
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Marbles made of onyx round
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Gleamed when Egypt's sun shone down.
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)

Settler children carried these
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
In pockets of their dungarees.
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Marbles made of hard brown clay
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Roll to you then roll away.
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)

Modern children roll them 'round
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
At recess on the old school ground
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Cat's Eye, Alley, Jumbo, Crock
(Roll 'em this way, roll 'em that.)
Glass replaces clay and rock

Robert Clarke
Copyright 1996