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Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannel

Vernon Scannel's poem describes a game of hide and seek from the perspective of the hider. In three sentences: The speaker hides in a toolshed filled with salty smelling sacks, remaining perfectly still and not making a sound as the seekers search nearby. After a long wait in the cold dark shed, the hider emerges victorious, only to discover that the seekers are nowhere to be found.

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hana radwan
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80 views1 page

Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannel

Vernon Scannel's poem describes a game of hide and seek from the perspective of the hider. In three sentences: The speaker hides in a toolshed filled with salty smelling sacks, remaining perfectly still and not making a sound as the seekers search nearby. After a long wait in the cold dark shed, the hider emerges victorious, only to discover that the seekers are nowhere to be found.

Uploaded by

hana radwan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hide and seek by Vernon Scannel

Call out. Call loud: ‘I’m ready! Come and find me!’
The sacks in the toolshed smell like the seaside.
They’ll never find you in this salty dark
But be careful that your feet aren’t sticking out.
Wiser not to risk another shout.
The floor is cold. They’ll probably be searching
The bushes near the swing. Whatever happens
You mustn’t sneeze when they come prowling in.
And here they are, whispering at the door;
You’ve never heard them sound so hushed before.
Don’t breathe. Don’t move. Stay dumb. Hide in your blindness. They’re moving closer, someone
stumbles, mutters;
Their words and laughter scuffle, and they’re gone.
But don’t come out just yet; they’ll try the lane
And then the greenhouse and back here again.
They must be thinking that you’re very clever,
Getting more puzzled as they search all over.
It seems a long time since they went away.
Your legs are stiff, the cold bites through your coat;
The dark damp smell of sand moves in your throat.
It’s time to let them know that you’re the winner.
Push off the sacks. Uncurl and stretch. That’s better!
Out of the shed and call to them: ‘I’ve won!
Here I am! Come and own up I’ve caught you!’
The darkening garden watches. Nothing stirs.
The bushes hold their breath; the sun is gone.
Yes, here you are. But where are they who sought you?

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