CRICKET POEM(Awarded third prize in "Cricket Story/Poem Contest, 2004" ,
"Cricket Story/Poem Contest, 2004")
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AN ODE TO CRICKET
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Oh, cricket is such a fun,
Players keen to make a run
After, forcefully, they trounce
A ball of five and half ounce,
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With a mighty willow bat,
Swinging it this way and that,
In a show of great cunning,
batsmen bat a full inning,
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What decides who wins matches?
Runs and wickets and catches.
Bowlers’ dream is a hat-trick
Each side wants the trophy quick.
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Cricket, game of gentlemen,
Of sportsmanship, true emblem,
Thou can verily inflame
Passions in the name of game.
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In thy name forget nations,
Inimical relations.
Thy name can thaw up the heart,
And friendly talks can restart.
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Cricket, hold thy banner high
And, from rooftops, give a cry:
Heartily all of us hail
Sehwag, Kaif, Parthiv Patel.
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* Written in aabb, 7-7-7-7 format
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* 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.
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* Sehwag is the only cricketer in the world to complete a triple century with a sixer. Kaif and Parthiv Patel also made notable contributions.
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M C Gupta
24 April, 2004
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