International GCSE English
Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannell
Call out. Call loud: ‘I’m ready! Come and find me!’ * exclamation marks
The sacks in the toolshed smell like the seaside. Convey excitement
They’ll never find you in this salty dark, * simile
But be careful that your feet aren’t sticking out.
Wiser not to risk another shout.
The floor is cold. They’ll probably be searching * foreshadowing
The bushes near the swing. Whatever happens
You mustn’t sneeze when they come prowling in. * the imperative
And here they are, whispering at the door; contributes to tension
You’ve never heard them sound so hushed before.
Don’t breathe. Don’t move. Stay dumb. Hide in your blindness.
They’re moving closer, someone stumbles, mutters;
Their words and laughter scuffle, and they’re gone.
But don’t come out just yet; they’ll try the lane
And then the greenhouse and back here again.
They must be thinking that you’re very clever,
Getting more puzzled as they search all over.
It seems a long time since they went away.
Your legs are stiff, the cold bites through your coat; * the personification
The dark damp smell of sand moves in your throat. Of nature creates
It’s time to let them know that you’re the winner. An ominous mood
, Push off the sacks. Uncurl and stretch. That’s better!
Out of the shed and call to them: ‘I’ve won!
Here I am! Come and own up I’ve caught you!’
The darkening garden watches. Nothing stirs.
The bushes hold their breath; the sun is gone.
Yes, here you are. But where are they who sought you?
Subject -Matter
On the face of it this poem relays how a game of ‘hide and seek’ transpires.
It can be read however as an extended metaphor for life conveying how
feelings of isolation and abandonment can ensue from the paths we
choose to take in life. Hide and Seek is a deep and important message
hidden in the detailed description of a familiar childhood game. It
emphasises the importance of recognising and availing the opportunities
which life presents us with.
The narrator tells the child to “call out” – he is ready to be found in the game.
He is hiding in the tool-shed, under some sacks that smell of salt and sea. The
narrator alerts the child about keeping his feet hidden and to not call out
again. The floor is cold, they are probably looking elsewhere. The narrator
reminds the child not to sneeze and then comments that the people are here,
whispering at the door of the shed. There is a tense moment, and then they
leave, laughing. The boy waits longer, surmising that they will be s confused
and frustrated at being unable to find him. Eventually, he comes out and
shouts ‘I’ve won!’, but there is nobody there – either because they are now
hiding, or because they became bored and abandoned the game. Therefore,
as the poem goes on, the hiding becomes lonelier and more
uncomfortable, until it finally becomes disturbing. From the outset, "The
floor" of the shed "is cold." As you think you hear the seekers approaching,
you try not to "breathe" or "move," and even suppress your senses like a
Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannell
Call out. Call loud: ‘I’m ready! Come and find me!’ * exclamation marks
The sacks in the toolshed smell like the seaside. Convey excitement
They’ll never find you in this salty dark, * simile
But be careful that your feet aren’t sticking out.
Wiser not to risk another shout.
The floor is cold. They’ll probably be searching * foreshadowing
The bushes near the swing. Whatever happens
You mustn’t sneeze when they come prowling in. * the imperative
And here they are, whispering at the door; contributes to tension
You’ve never heard them sound so hushed before.
Don’t breathe. Don’t move. Stay dumb. Hide in your blindness.
They’re moving closer, someone stumbles, mutters;
Their words and laughter scuffle, and they’re gone.
But don’t come out just yet; they’ll try the lane
And then the greenhouse and back here again.
They must be thinking that you’re very clever,
Getting more puzzled as they search all over.
It seems a long time since they went away.
Your legs are stiff, the cold bites through your coat; * the personification
The dark damp smell of sand moves in your throat. Of nature creates
It’s time to let them know that you’re the winner. An ominous mood
, Push off the sacks. Uncurl and stretch. That’s better!
Out of the shed and call to them: ‘I’ve won!
Here I am! Come and own up I’ve caught you!’
The darkening garden watches. Nothing stirs.
The bushes hold their breath; the sun is gone.
Yes, here you are. But where are they who sought you?
Subject -Matter
On the face of it this poem relays how a game of ‘hide and seek’ transpires.
It can be read however as an extended metaphor for life conveying how
feelings of isolation and abandonment can ensue from the paths we
choose to take in life. Hide and Seek is a deep and important message
hidden in the detailed description of a familiar childhood game. It
emphasises the importance of recognising and availing the opportunities
which life presents us with.
The narrator tells the child to “call out” – he is ready to be found in the game.
He is hiding in the tool-shed, under some sacks that smell of salt and sea. The
narrator alerts the child about keeping his feet hidden and to not call out
again. The floor is cold, they are probably looking elsewhere. The narrator
reminds the child not to sneeze and then comments that the people are here,
whispering at the door of the shed. There is a tense moment, and then they
leave, laughing. The boy waits longer, surmising that they will be s confused
and frustrated at being unable to find him. Eventually, he comes out and
shouts ‘I’ve won!’, but there is nobody there – either because they are now
hiding, or because they became bored and abandoned the game. Therefore,
as the poem goes on, the hiding becomes lonelier and more
uncomfortable, until it finally becomes disturbing. From the outset, "The
floor" of the shed "is cold." As you think you hear the seekers approaching,
you try not to "breathe" or "move," and even suppress your senses like a
