Red Rover (Villanelle)

by Tom Bryan

Cold War children played a game. 
 Red Rover:  game of chance and skill. 
“Run like hell when they call your name.”

World-wide, rules are always the same, 
 on tarmac or on grassy hill. 
Cold War children played a game. 

A child could be bleeding or lame, 
gulping breathless in winter’s chill: 
“Run like hell when they call your name.”

It was never quiet or tame. 
No chance to quit or just stand still. 
Cold War children played a game.

On the cusp of nuclear flame, 
or genocidal overkill. 
“Run like hell when they call your name.”

When we lost we shared the blame, 
of childhood guilt we had our fill. 
Cold War children played a game. 
“Run from hell when they call your name.”