The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

I’m Playing Tag, Or Maybe Dobby

Some games
have names.
But the name
of a game
seems to change
depending
on where
it’s being played.
There’s one
that’s called tag
or tiggy
or tig
or tap
tip
tick
it
catch chase
chase
chasey
tuggy
or,
unexpectedly,
unless you call it that,
in which case the other names must seem a bit boring,
dobby.

Such a lot
of names
for a game
that everyone
plays
just the same.

About the Writer


Annelies Judson

Annelies hails from Aotearoa New Zealand. She likes cooking, cricket, and her kids (not in that order). Her debut picture book will be out in 2025. More information about Annelies can be found at anneliesjudson.wordpress.com