Hide-n-Seek

<<One>>

The little dead-end street rang loud

‘Neath the glaring summer sun

All day the wind carried laughter

Squealing children having fun

<<Two>>

And then the glowing orb sank low

Kissed the rocky peaks goodnight

A blanket of dark draped o’er all

Highlighted by soft starlight

<<Three>>

Giggles faded to faint whispers

Pavement rang with slapping feet

Running in ev’ry direction

Scattered dandelion seed

<<Four>>

One snuck into the neighbor's yard

Crouched behind a fence of wood

Amid the overgrown shrubbery

Holding her breath best she could

<<Five>>

One climbed 'mid branches high above

The dark, empty weed-filled lot

Perched amongst the twigs and the leaves

Determined not to get caught

<<Six>>

He ran and ran as fast he could

All the way to the far end

Dressed all in black from head to toe

Tonight darkness was his friend

<<Seven>>

Two stayed together hand-in-hand

Into rows of cornstalks tall

Huddled into the rich, soft earth

Became silent, still, and small

<<Eight>>

She raced across the street so quick

Slipped behind the run down shed

Sank back deep into the shadows

Mimicked quiet of the dead

<<Nine>>

He circled round into the back

Beneath the deck he did crawl

Amongst the spiders and the bugs

His spot secret from them all

<<Ten>>

One left alone where it began

His face hid against the bark

He called out loud for all to hear

As they sheltered in the dark

<<Eleven>>

He counted up as was the rule

Surely did not dare to peek

Called his warning for all to hear

Quietly began to seek

<<Twelve>>

Now off to catch his hidden prey

A ghost of stealth he must be

He'd only tag them ‘fore they're safe

With invisibility

<<Thirteen>>

Seven pairs of little round eyes

Watched and waited, held their breath

Knowing the window was so small

Failure would mean sudden death

<<Fourteen>>

One brave soul snuck out from his spot

Stayed where darkest shadows fell

Checked for movement before he ran

Reaching home with whooping yell

<<Fifteen>>

Emboldened by the shout of joy

Others began creeping near

Three more made it back to the porch

Erupting victory cheer

<<Sixteen>>

She waited for the prowl to pass

And dropped from the tree with grace

A snapping twig gave her away

Thus began the final chase

<<Seventeen>>

He spun 'round fast and gave pursuit

She was far ahead of him

He closed the gap, reached out his hand

She leapt to the porch to win

<<Eighteen>>

Sadly, his hand made contact first

‘Fore her foot on pavement hit

His laughter rang through the night air

“I got you first, now you're it”

<<Nineteen>>

Eight children gathered at the porch

Round two now about to start

Remaining there one starts to count

Others fade into the dark

<<Twenty>>

I hope this tale has helped you learn

And you are prepared to run

Have you vanished into the night?

"Ready or not, here I come!"