The Ball Poem

THE BALL POEM by John Berriman This poem is about losing something that you love, and learning to grow up. It is about a little boy, who for the first time in his young life, is learning what it is like to experience grief at the loss of a much beloved possession – his ball. To us, the loss of a ball is of minor consequence, and our reaction to it is to say ‘O there …

…the short, brisk, happy words allow you to visualize a ball bouncing along. In the lines ‘An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy as he stands rigid, trembling, staring down. All his young days into the harbour where his ball went.’ The words and rhythm is tragic, dramatic and harsh, which is suitable for the situation. Similar uses of tone and rhythm help add to the effect of the poem, and help emphasize the meaning.