NCERT English Class 10 Poem - The Ball Poem

Poem - The Ball Poem

Writer of the poem - John Berryman
Summary
    John Berryman’s ‘The Ball Poem’ is about the loss of a ball by a boy in a harbour. The poet through the poem, describes the harsh realities of life.

    ‘The Ball’ in the poem represents the ‘priceless possessions’ that a boy holds. The poet, looking at the boy, seldom offers any help with the intention of teaching the boy the harsh realities of life and hence to accept it.

    ‘The disappearing ball’ is the spirit of the boy’s childish innocence sinking into the harsh tone of the poem. The memories and feelings attached to the ball can never be brought with money which is an external entity. This in a way teaches the toughest lessons of life standing in the vastness of the harbour (life) held in grief.

    The poem hence stands out as the very fact of life, ‘to stand tall and tough’ to face life than to cling on the ‘lost’ balls learning the epistemology of loss.