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.
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.
This poem is copyright (©) Annelies Judson 2026
About the Writer
Annelies Judson
Annelies Judson is a children's author and poet from Aotearoa New Zealand. She
loves cooking, cricket and her kids (not in that order). She also has alopecia, but
that is neither hair nor there. Her debut picture book, Turkey Hurly-Burly, was
released by Scholastic (NZ) in 2025. You can find her at anneliesjudson.wordpress.com
