I never hear the word escape — Prisoner's Bars

I never hear the word "escape" ¹
Without a quicker blood,
A sudden expectation
A flying attitude!

I never hear of prisons broad ⁵
By soldiers battered down,
But I tug childish at my bars
Only to fail again!

(F.144/J.77)

[5, 7] prisons, bars:: prisoner's bars. (OED prisoner's bars, base 1598) A game played in a variety of ways, chiefly by boys; the players are divided into two parties, who occupy distinct demarcations, 'bases', 'homes', or 'dens', the aim of each side being to make prisoner by touching any player of the opposite side who runs out from his enclosure.
[8] fail again:: "Prisoner's Base, Or Prison Bars. This is a most delightful game . . . prisoners are m+ade and released" (Every Little Boy's Book, 1864).

PRISONER'S BASE. This game may be played by five or nine on each side, and there is no objection to more or fewer players. The choice of partners is made by chance. Bounds are marked out for the two parties, a space being left between them to admit of running. Two prisons are also marked in a line with each other at some distance from the front of the bounds. The game is now commenced by a player from one side running out mid-way between the bounds and prisons; a player from the other side immediately follows, and he may be pursued by one of his adversaries, who in like manner may be followed by a player from the side which began the game, and so on; both parties being at liberty to send out as many as they think fit. ─ The Book of Sports (1834)