The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GAME WITH RHYME

YOU WOULD PLAY THIS GAME BY STANDING IN A CIRCLE, FACING THE MIDDLE.
ONE PERSON WOULD WALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE CARRYING A
HANKY AND WOULD SAY:
A TISKET, A TASKET
A GREEN AND YELLOW BASKET
SENT A LETTER TO MY LOVE
AND ON THE WAY I DROPPED IT
THEN YOU WOULD DROP THE HANKY BEHIND SOMEONE AND THEY WOULD CHASE YOU
AROUND THE CIRCLE. YOU TRY TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CIRCLE AND
JUMP INTO THE EMPTY SPOT BEFORE THAT PERSON TAGS YOU. IF YOU DO,
HE'S IT AND IF HE TAGS YOU, YOU'RE STILL IT.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER PLAYED THIS GAME WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE. I NEVER DID. I
REMEMBER KNOWING THE FIRST TWO LINES OF THE RHYME BUT THE LAST TWO
ARE UNFAMILIAR. I NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT THE RHYME WAS PART OF A GAME.
MY MOTHER WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON