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
I love this poem! I don't understand everything about this game, but it smacks of the America that was great, self-sufficient, and envied the world over. Ngaio Beck
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Been there done that - just about the same year too. Say you aren't the guy who won all my treasures are you? If so, I'll tell all those people who say I've lost my marbles that Richard took 'em.