The Ball Poem
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over — there it is in the water!
No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:
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. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.
JOHN BERRYMAN
Central Idea of the Poem
"The Ball Poem' looks like a simple story of a young boy losing his ball. The boy is severely upset over the loss. Normally, it may seem like a great overreaction. Children lose things as their toys and balls quite often. Usually, no fuss should be made about such a small thing. But the ball seems to be symbolising the poet's childhood. The boy becoming an adult, loses his childhood. He was clinging onto his childhood for so long. The poet accepts the changes in his life. Although he is still suffering yet he is learning to move on from his fleeting childhood. The true theme of the poem is that we should cherish every moment of life. Life is really very short. The poet realises that it is very difficult to deal with the loss but it must be done. We should move on as there is no use in wasting precious time and life.
Main points of the poem:-
1. The young boy lost his ball.
2. He was playing and saw the ball bouncing down the street.
3. Then, in the end the ball fell down into the water and lost forever.
4. The boy sees everything happening before his eyes but he is helpless.
5. He only stands there helplessly moaning at the loss of the ball.
6. The loss of the ball may appear to be an ordinary incident.
7. It seems that boys lose such balls many times while they are playing.
8. The boy should not make a fuss over it.
9. The loss of ball is symbolic. It has a deeper meaning.
Detailed Explanation
This poem by John Berryman is about a young boy who has lost his ball and is standing by the water staring at it. The poet describes the boy's reaction to the loss of his ball, which is one of "ultimate shaking grief" and "trembling." The boy is not just upset about losing his ball but also about the realization of the finality of possession. The poet emphasizes that balls are lost always and can't be bought back, and this is the boy's first experience with the reality of loss.
The poem also reflects the theme of growing up and learning to deal with the reality of loss and disappointment. The boy is learning, as the poet says, "The epistemology of loss" which means the theory and knowledge of loss, and how to stand up knowing what every man must one day know. The poem emphasizes that this knowledge is not something that can be bought with money, it's something internal and something that every man must learn.
The final lines of the poem, "how to stand up, knowing what every man must one day know, and most know many days, how to stand up," suggests that the loss of ball is not just a small event, but a significant part of growing up, and a necessary step in learning to deal with the inevitable losses in life.
Thinking About the Poem
Question 1. Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?
Answer:
The poet says, "I would not intrude on him" because he recognizes that the boy is going through a personal and emotional experience and doesn't want to interrupt or disturb him. The poet is aware that the boy is standing alone, staring into the water, and feeling a deep sense of grief and loss. He doesn't want to intrude on the boy's moment of grief, and he wants to respect the boy's privacy and personal space.
The poet also doesn't offer the boy money to buy another ball because he understands that this is not a problem that can be solved with money. The loss of the ball is not just about the ball itself but about the boy's first experience with the reality of loss and the finality of possession. The poet realizes that the boy is learning a valuable lesson about life and that money cannot replace that learning experience. Offering money would not only be inadequate, but it would also trivialize the boy's emotional state. The poet wants to acknowledge the boy's emotions and the significance of this moment in his life.
Question 2. “… staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball went …” Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it?
Answer:
The line "staring down / All his young days into the harbour where / His ball went" suggests that the boy is staring into the water for a prolonged period of time, and it implies that the loss of the ball is significant to him, but it does not specify how long he has had the ball for. The phrase "all his young days" could mean that the ball has been a part of his life for a long time and is linked to many happy memories, but it could also mean that the boy is young, and this is one of the first significant possessions he has lost in his life. The poem doesn't give us a specific time frame, but instead, it emphasizes the emotional significance of the loss to the boy.
Question 3. What does “in the world of possessions” mean?
Answer:
The phrase "in the world of possessions" refers to the idea that we live in a society where we accumulate possessions and material objects. These possessions play a significant role in our lives and are often seen as a symbol of our status, identity, and well-being. The phrase "in the world of possessions" is used to indicate that the boy is learning about the nature of material possessions and how they can be lost. The phrase emphasizes that the boy is beginning to understand that possessions are not permanent, and that he must learn to deal with the reality of loss. It implies that the boy is learning a valuable lesson about how possessions are not the most important things in life and that they can be replaced, but the emotions and memories associated with them cannot. It highlights the idea that possessions are temporary and that they are not the ultimate source of happiness.
Question 4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
Answer:
The poem does not delve into the boy's past experiences with loss. However, based on the words "I saw it go / Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then / Merrily over — there it is in the water!" it could imply that this is one of the first times the boy has lost something, and he is not prepared for it. The words, "An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy / As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down" suggest that the boy is experiencing a deep sense of loss and that this is the first time he's been confronted with this kind of feeling.
Question 5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.
Answer:
The poet suggests that the boy is learning a valuable lesson about loss and the nature of possessions. The boy is learning the "epistemology of loss", which refers to the study of knowledge or understanding of loss. He is learning how to deal with the reality of losing something that he valued. The poet says, "He senses first responsibility / In a world of possessions" which implies that the boy is becoming aware of the fact that possessions are not permanent and can be lost. He is learning that possessions are not the most important things in life, and that they can be replaced, but the emotions and memories associated with them cannot.
Question 6. Have you ever lost something you liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then, and saying whether — and how — you got over your loss.
Answer:
Loss is an inevitable part of human life, and it can take many forms, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of a home, the loss of a possession, and more. The sense of loss can be overwhelming and can lead to feelings of sadness, grief, and hopelessness. It can be difficult to move on from the loss and to find meaning in life again. However, it is important to understand that loss is a natural part of life, and it is possible to overcome it. One way to overcome the sense of loss is to allow yourself to feel and express your emotions. It is important to give yourself time to grieve and to process your feelings. It is also important to reach out to friends and family for support and to seek professional help if necessary. It is also important to focus on the present moment and to take small steps towards rebuilding your life. You can try to find new hobbies or activities to keep yourself occupied and to focus on the positive aspects of life. It is also important to remember that the memories and the love of the person or the thing that you lost will always remain with you. With time and patience, you will eventually learn to cope with the sense of loss and to find meaning in life again.
