These poems have been specially commissioned for Games in the Park . You can either chant them along with particular games, or just enjoy them as poems in their own right.
Bell(s) of the Ball
When we came here first
The ball only had one bell
Soon stopped ringing
Even in mid-air – and
Then we were staggering
Around the pitch like drunks
A swishingly angry army
Of white sticks.
Last night, on the dorm,
Jamie un-sewed the damn thing
Gave it new internal organs –
His baby sister’s rattle, both bells
Off the caretaker’s cat’s collar,
And one of those boxes that moos
Like a cow in labour.
Now we can always find it,
Smack it on and on towards
The GOAL!!!! But heading it –
Well, that’s no joke!
© Char March 2012
Wheelchair Archery
Bone spurs sprout on our shoulders
To carry our bow-arm muscles.
It is all a question of steadiness
Of strength of concentration of eye.
No legs is of no consequence here
Good gel cushions anchor our bums
Our wheels solidly planted in the turf
Brakes on, sights trued, wind speed checked,
Quivers full, arm guard tight, fingers hooked
In our universal Up Yours gesture.
We may no longer run, but our arrows
Fly true – straight to the heart.
© Char March 2012
The Egg and Spoon Race
I like eggs, I like soldiers
That’s the breakfast to fill your face,
But there’s something I like better
It’s the egg and spoon, Sports’ Day, race.
Hold the spoon, balance that egg
Run like mad on the bumpy track,
Ignore the crampings in your leg,
Try to win, and don’t look back.
I like eggs, I like soldiers,
Next race now, hear the drum,
And this time I’m not going to worry,
I’ve handed the spoon to my Mum.
Hold it tightly, balance that egg
Run like mad on the bumpy track,
Ignore the crampings in your leg,
Try to win and don’t look back.
© James Nash 2012
Knurr and Spell
Eeyoop, and champion,
Listen, and let me tell
Thee how to lake
The game of knurr and spell.
You throw up the knurr
And whack it like hell
In the old Yorkshire game
Of knurr and spell
Just whack it, It’s simple as owt,
If you’re fit as a flea,
From one end to t’other
Of God’s own county.
Eeyoop, and champion,
Listen, and let me tell
Thee how to lake
The game of knurr and spell.
© James Nash 2012
Song of the Rope
Rope, bamboo or jungle vine
Stout, middling or fine
The East, the West, the North, the South
Age-old and ever new
I the Earth entwine
Who’s the skipper pray, who the rope?
What dreams of glory, what hope?
With the whole world within our scope
Tripping lightly as we skip
Skipping swiftly, we never trip
Easy jump, criss-cross, side swing
Alternate foot jump
Front back and across again
Double under, double dutch
Toad and crougar
One arm hooked under the leg
Awesome Annie, inverse toad,
Elephant, frog and donkey kick
Higher, faster
Back flip, front flip
Rope, bamboo or jungle vine
Stout, middling or fine
The East, the West, the North, the South
Age-old and ever new
I the Earth entwine
© Alchemy 2012
Hopscotch
Number by number.
Step by step.
Thrown down the stone.
Then make your way home.
Number by number.
Don’t step on the lines.
Hop around the world.
From one to nine.
© John Siddique 2012
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Extreme
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Off-Ground Tig,
High Picka, No Feet, Off-Ground He –
Ranjit’s cool, Ranjit’s mean,
standing on his head on a parking machine.
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Off-Ground Tig,
High Picka, No Feet, Off-Ground She –
Aileen’s nimble, Aileen’s thin,
dancing up a jig on a wheelie bin.
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Off-Ground Tig,
High Picka, No Feet, Off-Ground He –
Jayden’s daring, Jayden’s crazy,
swinging from a bridge with that old lady.
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Off-Ground Tig,
High Picka, No Feet, Off-Ground She –
Mandy’s proud, Mandy’s aloof,
sitting on a stool on the town hall roof.
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Off-Ground Tig,
High Picka, No Feet, Off-Ground He -
Ifti’s grinning like a garden gnome,
sliding on his bum down a golden dome.
Tiggy Tiggy Off-Ground, Off-Ground Tig,
High Picka, No Feet, Off-Ground Us –
Jump up to Jupiter, leap up to Mars,
fill your pockets with a thousand stars.
We’re all heroes, we’ll never die,
Dobby Off-Ground, Tiggy on High!
© Adam Strickson 2012
Mama’s Clapping Game Poem
Sugar sugar superstition.
Sugar sugar notion.
Sugar Sugar, baby.
Sugar, sugar: ocean.
Sugar sugar superstition.
Sugar sugar notion.
Sugar Sugar, baby.
Sugar, sugar: ocean.
Clap hands baby, clap hands with me:
Mama’s winding through you, like a path to being free:
like the bloom of a bird, or the sing of the bee
Mama is your moon in the night of the thief:
Press hands baby, press hands with me:
skin to palm - remember me;
cheek to kiss - and I’ll love thee -
to the bottom of the blue,
or the rope of the tree.
Hold hands child, hold hands with me.
Mama’s written in you, in the ink of belief;
on the auction block, a soul can’t be bought:
whatever might be written in the map of Mississippi.
So, if they take you away from me:
Mama will be there
in the anguish of the rain
in the sorrow of the sea
in the shiver of the moon:
until we meet again -
in the belly of the sun.
So, if they take you away from me:
over the struggle of the ocean
and the salt of the sea -
Mama’s love
gonna find you,
gonna set you free.
Mama’s love
gonna find you,
gonna set you free.
They cannot drown you -
and they cannot drown me.
Mama’s love gonna shine on you -
and set you free.
Sugar, sugar, superstition,
Sugar, sugar, notion.
Sugar, sugar - baby.
Sugar, sugar: omen.
Sugar, sugar, superstition,
Sugar, sugar, notion.
Sugar, sugar - baby.
Sugar, sugar: omen.
© Rommi Smith
Kabaddi
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Pursuit,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Together We Group
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Our Land,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, United We Stand.
As We Dance To The Beat Of Our Hearts,
History Repeats Itself From The Start,
With The Fight Between Good And Bad,
We Lock Horns With Our Shoulder Pads
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Pursuit,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Together We Group
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Our Land,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, United We Stand.
Kabaddi, Kabaddi Is The Word That’s Spoken
A Chain Is Made That Can’t Be Broken,
Freedom Fighters Paved The Way Here.
Sweat And Tears Overshadows Our Fear,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Pursuit,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Together We Group
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Our Land,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, United We Stand.
No Need For Weapons, We Have Inner Strength
Our Breath Is Held As We Run The Length
Our History Strong Running Through Our Veins
Our Turbans Proud Like A Lions Mane.
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Pursuit,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Together We Group
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, The Game Of Our Land,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, United We Stand.
© SilverFinger 2012
Led by Bradford Council’s Department of Regeneration & Culture, Games in the Park has been conceived, brokered and curated by Alchemy
Games in the Park is part of New Worlds, a curated strand of imove, the Legacy Trust UK programme for Yorkshire; a new and imaginative celebration of the art of human movement, bringing together the best creative talent from the region to produce a programme of events designed to inspire the public in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
www.imove.com @imoveand
New Worlds is a partnership between Alchemy, Bradford’s Department of Regeneration & Culture, Harewood House, National Centre for Early Music, National Media Museum and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Hull City Council and Ryedale Folk Museum are additional partners of Games in the Park.
