Under The Cuckoo's Nest
Source:
Games For The Playground, Home, School And Gymnasium
Category:
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVE GAMES
_5 to 30 players._
_House party; out of doors._
One player is chosen as leader, and stands up, generally with his back
against a wall or post, while a second player, who is the cuckoo,
bends down, as for leapfrog, with his head against the leader. The
other players stand around in a circle, each placing a finger on the
back of the cuckoo. The leader then "counts off" the fingers of the
players with the following rhyme, indicating a finger for each accent
of the rhyme
"The wind blows east, the wind blows west,
The wind blows under the cuckoo's nest.
Where shall this or that one go?
Shall he go east or shall he go west?
Or shall he go under the cuckoo's nest?"
The player whose finger is indicated by the last word of the rhyme
must then go to any place directed by the cuckoo, who, if he has any
intimation of the identity of the player, may use considerable tact in
choosing a difficult or interesting place; as on some high point to
which it is difficult to climb, or under some low object under which
it is hard to crawl, some distant place, etc. One player, however,
must be directed to hide under the cuckoo's nest, and this player
takes a position at the feet of the cuckoo. This is a favored
position. When all of the players have been thus disposed, the leader
calls, "Pom, pom, cooketty coo!" As soon as this call is heard, the
players run back and pound the cuckoo on the back until the last one
is in. This last one becomes the cuckoo for the next repetition of the
game.
Next:
Vaulting Seats
Previous:
Tug Of War
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