Cricket Ball by Dannie Abse About this poet

The poet reads his own poem inspired by the memory of a cricket match watched as a child.

Length: 1.44m   Topics: Childhood, Memories, Sport,
28 comments – see below
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Marcus Smith | 28 September 2011

I think this poem is very clever as it explains well how cricket is a summer sound. It brings to life all the smells, sounds and atmosphere of a cricket match this is my favorite and i really enjoyed it.


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james h smith | 29 September 2011

i like the use of a good use of vocabulary to discribe how cricket is a summer sport and how it discribes the cricket ball


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Aaron Smith | 30 September 2011

This poem represents the fun of playing sports as a young child the poet also paints a vivid picture of the surrounding environment of which he is decribing. my one critisism is that the poet could have made the poem a little longer for my liking


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Zeerak Smith | 4 October 2011

This poem is really great since it represents cricket in a different way. Cricket is my favourite sport and he describes it like the environment. He is saying it is a great summer sport and it is clever how he puts the poem in that way.  smile


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harry foster | 6 October 2011

i think this poem stands out to me


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joe rose | 6 October 2011

it was good but, the person that was reading it was really dull and boring.


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Connor O'Halloran | 6 October 2011

I enjoyed listeningto this poem and felt that the poets calm and collected voice was an add to the word that the described the cricket ball and the lush green grass.

Well done to the poet,
Connor O’Halloran


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natasha and emily | 6 October 2011

i likethe way the poet read his own poem and i thought itwas very good although it lacked excitment and enthusiasm.xx


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Isabelle Chidgey | 6 October 2011

I found this poem interesting and had very detailed vocabulary, but could have been a little bit more interesting!


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Alfie Feltham and Dylan Mackley | 6 October 2011

it shows all the details of the game atmosphere it describes feelings smells sounds tectures and his suroundings


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Ella x | 6 October 2011

It is ok but it did go on…..
lol x


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emma mitchell | 6 October 2011

I think that the poem represents fun of playing sports as young child


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Charlotte Stibbards | 6 October 2011

i DIDNT REALY GET MUCH OF A FEEL FOR THE POEM BUT I THOUGHT THE LYRICS WHERE GOOD.I THINK THE POETS VOICE COULD HAVE BEEN A BIT MORE LIVELY AS WELL!


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Harriet Tull | 6 October 2011

I found this poem ok, but however i did find that it went on a little bit :/
and to be honest, i did not really understand it that well! but i also feel the person reading out the poem could have been a little more enthusiastic!


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Cool penguin 123 | 6 October 2011

It is epic!!!!!!!!!!:)


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Johanna <3 Cowan | 6 October 2011

I thought he was showing some of his emotions and feelings about his past and stuff like that. he wasnt boring me but could of put more expretion into the poem. Also over all i did like the poem. xx


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Adam Liddell | 6 October 2011

Intresting but it does go on.


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Sam Tudor | 6 October 2011

it was moving but I think it could have benafited if it was a bit more lively


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Niamh | 6 October 2011

I think it would stand out to some people who like cricket, but I’m not really a fan. I like the words he uses though.


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will.i.am | 6 October 2011

i thought it was ok but he just kept repeating


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elle charles | 6 October 2011

it was ok i don’t think it was the one for me. Think it would stand out to cricket fan’s


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James perrin | 6 October 2011

It was slow and fluent but a little bit dull and depressing but you bring out your true emotions so in a way i like grin Good job


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george bartlett | 6 October 2011

I didn’t really understand what he was saying.  He spoke very passionately.  He obviously likes cricket and thinks it’s a beautiful game.


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John Davies | 3 November 2013

I liked the poem maybe more when I read it first myself years ago. I recommend Abse’s autobiographical novel Ash on a Young Man’s Sleeve, about growing up as a Jewish boy in Cardiff in the 1930s. It’s warm, witty, wise, true to the pleasures of childhood while the rise of fascism and then war loom in the background. He’s an old man now, retired as an eminent doctor, a chest specialist as well as writer and poet.


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Scyld Berry | 13 November 2013

This is a most admirable poem by a most admirable man. Among poems about cricket and the evocation of lost youth, I would place it second only to “At Lord’s” by Francis Thompson. But whereas Thompson, a down-and-out drug addict on the streets of late Victorian London, did not want to go to Lord’s to see his county Lancashire play again, because it would be too poignant, this poem seems to be life-affirming. Dannie Abse not only recalls this golden moment of his childhood; he smells cut grass, and shines an apple on his thigh, as if he is ready to play cricket again.


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