Remember, Please! by Norman Gale
The work explores themes of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time through the lens of cricket, a sport that serves as a metaphor for life's challenges and triumphs. The speaker reflects on the intensity and excitement of the game, drawing parallels between the sport and personal experiences. The imagery evokes the tension of a bowler's run-up and the anticipation of a delivery, symbolizing moments of fear and exhilaration in life. The poem captures the essence of competition, where the stakes are high, and emotions run deep. The language emphasizes the rawness of the experience, contrasting the playful nature of the game with the serious undertones of personal struggle. The speaker acknowledges the societal pressures to conform to "clean speech," suggesting that the authenticity of expression is often sacrificed in the face of decorum. As the narrative unfolds, the speaker invites readers to remember the joy and pain intertwined in both cricket and life. The act of remembering becomes a central motif, highlighting how past experiences shape identity and influence present actions. The work ultimately serves as a meditation on the importance of embracing one's memories, both good and bad, as integral to the human experience. The interplay of sport and life underscores the idea that every moment, whether filled with joy or fear, contributes to the richness of existence.
By Norman Gale · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Sports · 145 words
First lines
When the run of the bowler is measured, And he, with brows knotted, Bowls fierce at your timber-yard treasured, To pot, or be potted, If the ball to the bone that is funny Fly swift as a swallow, And you squeal like a terrified bunny As agonies follow:
Then, then is a capital season, More fit than another, Loose language of silly unreason In courage to smother. Clean speech is too frequently shamed For Cricket to shame it! One word is too often exclaimed For you to exclaim it!
What this Textopian page supports
Remember, Please! is listed on Textopian as a poem by Norman Gale, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Norman Gale
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Sports, Satire, Lyric
- Length: 145 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Humor — The poem contains elements of humor, particularly in its playful language and absurd imagery.
- Sports — The subject matter revolves around cricket, making it relevant to the sports genre.
- Satire — The poem critiques aspects of cricket and societal norms, fitting the satire genre.
Tags
Literary Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Suspense · Thriller · Crime · Detective · Investigation · Plot Twist · Twist Ending · Surprise · Unreliable Narrator