Recess Rules
Listen to Helen's poem ... read by JH
Rip the skin off both knees when you slide into first.
Exercise in the sun till you’re dying of thirst.
Clown around till your teacher warns, “Stop now. Too much.”
Earn a bruise on your butt when you jump Double Dutch.
Spin wild circles so crazy your stomach goes woozy.
Shout, “You gotta pick me!” when team captains get choosy.
Rescue your friend from The Bully. Then hide.
Upset the whole team when your goal shot goes wide.
Lose the match when your Four-Square ball bounces away.
End up out of the game when you’re aching to play.
Still—100 %—recess rules every day!
Exercise in the sun till you’re dying of thirst.
Clown around till your teacher warns, “Stop now. Too much.”
Earn a bruise on your butt when you jump Double Dutch.
Spin wild circles so crazy your stomach goes woozy.
Shout, “You gotta pick me!” when team captains get choosy.
Rescue your friend from The Bully. Then hide.
Upset the whole team when your goal shot goes wide.
Lose the match when your Four-Square ball bounces away.
End up out of the game when you’re aching to play.
Still—100 %—recess rules every day!
This poem is copyright (©) Helen Kemp Zax 2024
About the Writer
Helen Kemp Zax
Helen Kemp Zax loves to write poetry, especially poems that rhyme. She was thrilled to be selected co-winner of the 2021 YorkMix International Children’s Poetry Prize, the 2018 MG Katherine Paterson Prize winner, and a 2019 Finalist. Her poetry appears in many wonderful children’s poetry anthologies like Chasing Clouds and in many magazines like The Caterpillar. Helen lives in Washington, D. C. with her husband and their crazy Aussie-doodle Huckleberry Finn.
