AN ODE TO CRICKET--award winner

AN ODE TO CRICKET



Oh, cricket is such a fun,
players keen to make a run
after, forcefully, they trounce
a ball of five and half ounce,

With a mighty willow bat,
swinging it this way and that,
in a show of great cunning,
batsmen bat a full inning,

What decides who wins matches?
Runs and wickets and catches.
Bowlers’ dream is a hat-trick.
Each side wants the trophy quick.

Cricket, game of gentlemen,
of sportsmanship, true emblem,
thou can verily inflame
passions in the name of game.

In thy name forget nations,
inimical relations.
Thy name can thaw up the heart,
and friendly talks can restart.


Cricket, hold thy banner high
and, from rooftops, give a cry:
heartily all of us hail
Sehwag, Kaif, Parthiv Patel.



* Written in aabb, 7-7-7-7 format

* The reference in the last but one stanza is to the thawing of relations between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Cricket match series, 2004.

* Sehwag is the only cricketer in the world to complete a triple century with a sixer. Kaif and Parthiv Patel also made notable contributions.

* Awarded third prize in "Cricket Story/Poem Contest, 2004" , "Cricket Story/Poem Contest, 2004"



M C Gupta
24 April, 2004