Confessions Of A Born Spectator (Poem)

Unit 2 – Poem

Confessions of a Born Spectator

Ogden Nash

Activities

Warm Up

performer / player spectator / audience

Not everybody loves to play and participate in games, sports and other extra-curricular activities. Some of us wish to be mere spectators.

• List out the activities in which you like to be either a performer or a spectator.
• Share your views with the class.

Here is a poem by Ogden Nash who believes that a spectator can be as enthusiastic as a player. Now let’s read and enjoy the poem ‘Confessions of a Born Spectator’.

Poem

One infant grows up and becomes a jockey,
Another plays basketball or hockey,
This one the prize ring hates to enter
That one becomes a tackle or center,
I am just glad as glad can be
That I am not them, that they are not me.

With all my heart I do admire
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire,
Who take the field in gaudy pomp,
And maim each other as they romp,
My limp and bashful spirit feeds
On other people’s heroic deeds.

Well, ego it might be pleased enough,
But zealous athletes play so rough
They do not ever in their dealings
Consider one another’s feelings.
I’m glad that when my struggle begins
’Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins.

When swollen eye meets gnarled fist
When snaps the knee, and cracks the wrist,
When officialdom demands,
“Is there a doctor in the stands?”
My soul in true thanksgiving speaks
For this modest of physiques.

“Athletes, I’ll drink to you
Or eat with you,
Or anything except compete with you;
Buy tickets worth their radium,
To watch you gambol in the stadium,
And reassure myself anew
That you are not me and I’m not you.”

Glossary

• physique – body
• drink to you – drink to wish good luck or celebrate success
• gambol – run or jump happily
• jockey – horse rider
• prize ring – enclosed area in which boxing matches are fought
• tackle, center – playing positions in football
• gaudy pomp – showy dress
• maim – injure
• romp – play in a rough and noisy way
• limp – weak
• bashful – shy and reluctant
• lashes – beats with a whip
• steed – a large, strong horse
• swap – exchange
• zealous – enthusiastic
• prudence – wisdom
• gnarled – rough and twisted

About the Author

Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. With his unconventional rhyming schemes, he was declared the country’s best-known producer of humorous poetry. His light verse even earned him a place on a postage stamp.

1. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions in a sentence or two.

a. Why does the poet feel glad that he does not play any game?
b. Do you think the narrator is heroic? Why?
c. The poet is satisfied just watching the heroic deeds of others. What could be the reason?
d. The poet does not wish to exchange position with the runners. Why?
e. Are the athletes conscious of the feelings of others? Why do you say so?
f. Why would the referee ask whether there was a doctor in the stands? What stands is he referring to?
g. Why does the poet prefer to buy tickets worth their weight in radium? Bring out the significance of the metal referred to here.

2. Read the poem again and complete the summary using the words given in the box.

thanksgiving exchange glad confesses physiques zealous satisfied aims admires

In the poem ‘Confessions of a Born Spectator’, Ogden Nash talks about how people choose different sports in their lives or decide to become athletes. While admiring the talents of athletes and sportsmen, the poet (i)_____ that he is glad that he is neither a sportsman nor an athlete. Children have different (ii)_____ and wish to play various games. Each child has in mind something in particular, but the narrator is (iii)_____ he is not one of the players. Though the narrator (iv)_____ the talents of all athletes, he derives satisfaction from watching them, but does not wish to (v)_____ places with them. He also sometimes regrets that (vi)_____ athletes play rough games without caring for the feelings of their sporting rivals. He feels that good sense and caution win over ego. The narrator wholeheartedly offers (vii)_____ the modest (viii)_____ of athletes. Ultimately the narrator is (ix)_____ that he himself is not an athlete.

3. Read the poem and answer the following in a short paragraph of 8–10 sentences each.

a. How does the poet establish the victory of common sense over ego?
b. The poet does not wish to exchange places with the athletes. How does he justify his view?
c. According to the poet what contributes most to the injuries sustained by the athletes?

4. Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow in a sentence or two.

a. With all my heart I do admire
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire
i. Whom does the poet admire?
ii. For what reasons do the athletes sweat?

b. Well, ego it might be pleased enough
But zealous athletes play so rough…
i. What pleases the ego?
ii. Why are athletes often rough during play?

c. When officialdom demands,
Is there a doctor in the stands?
i. Why are doctors called from stands by the sponsors?
ii. Why does the poet make such an observation?

d. When snaps the knee and cracks the wrist….
Identify and explain the use of the literary device in this line.

5. A. Explain the following with reference to the context in about 50–60 words each.

(i) I am just glad as glad can be
That I am not them, that they are not me…

(ii) They do not ever in their dealings
Consider one another’s feelings…

(iii) Athletes, I’ll drink to you,
Or eat with you,
Or anything except compete with you…

B. Underline the alliterated words in the following lines.

(i) My soul in true thanksgiving speaks
(ii) They do not ever in their dealings…

C. Read the poem and complete the table with suitable rhyming words.

Word	Rhyme
hockey
admire
romp
deeds
score
please
wrist
demands
stadium

D. Find out the rhyme scheme of the given stanza.

One infant grows up and becomes a jockey
Another plays basketball or hockey
This one the prize ring hates to enter
That one becomes a tackle or center…

6. Listening Activity.

First, read the following statements. Then, listen to the passage read aloud by your teacher or played on the recorder and answer the questions that follow. You may listen to it again, if required.

Choose the most appropriate option and complete the sentences.

1. Tejaswini Sawant is an Indian _____.
   a) shooter b) boxer c) cricketer

2. She represented India at the 9th South Asian Sports Federation Games in ____.
   a) 2001 b) 2002 c) 2004

3. In 2006, she won a Gold medal in the___.
   a) Commonwealth Games b) Olympic Games c) Asian Games

4. She became a world champion in the 50m Rifle Prone game held in ___.
   a) Germany b) Russia c) India

5. Tejaswini was the first Indian woman shooter to win a______medal at the World Championship in the 50m rifle prone game.
   a) gold b) silver c) bronze

7. Speaking Activity.

Work with your partner. Discuss and share your ideas with the class.

a. Tell the class about your ambition in life and the way you are working towards achieving your goal.
b. Your friend competes with you in academics and sports. Think of the situation wherein you would not be affected by his/her victory and the ways in which you would encourage your friend to succeed.

8. Answer the following questions in a short paragraph of about 100–150 words each. You may add your own ideas to support your point of view.

a. Why do accidents usually happen in the playground? Give your own examples and explain.
b. Everybody is special and everybody is a hero. Each one has a story to tell. In the light of this observation, present your views.
c. Would you like to exchange your place with someone else? Why / why not?
d. What sort of encouragement should an athlete in India be given? Give a few suggestions.
e. You are the School Pupil Leader. Mention some qualities that can be drawn from the field of sports to improve your leadership skills.

9. Parallel Reading

Thinking

by Walter Wintle

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win, but you think you can’t,
It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You’ve got to think high to rise,
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN.