SIX AND OUT

 

Six and Out 

The pitch was only smooth in parts; It sank at either crease, And motor vans and bakers’ carts At times disturbed the peace. The bowlers found it hard to hit The lamp-post’s slender stem, The broader wicket opposite, Was cleared at 6. p.m. It was a keen, determined school, Unorthodox and free; Harsh circumstance oft made the rule, And not the M.C.C. The scorer, seated by the well, Kept up a fire of talk; He was both umpires, crowd, and all, And plied a busy chalk. So, standing, musing on the scene, I let the moments pass: How well he drove it to the screen … And then—the crash of glass! I watched the players as they ran, And heard, while yet they fled, The loud voice of an angry man, The law’s majestic tread.

— G. D. Martineau

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE POEM :

STANZA 1:

The pitch was only smooth in parts; It sank at either crease, And motor vans and bakers’ carts At times disturbed the peace.

 Explanation :

The kids are playing cricket in the street, but it’s not a perfect place. The road is only smooth in some areas, and at the ends where the batters stand, the ground sinks a bit. It’s not easy to play here. And to make things harder, delivery vans and carts keep passing by and stopping the game.

STANZA 2 :

The bowlers found it hard to hit The lamp-post’s slender stem, The broader wicket opposite, Was cleared at 6. p.m. 

Explanation :

They’re using a lamp-post as a wicket, but it’s really thin so it’s tough for the bowlers to hit it. On the other side, there’s a bigger wicket, but that’s only available until 6 p.m., maybe because it’s someone’s wall or gate that gets closed in the evening. So, after 6, the game has to stop.

STANZA 3 :

It was a keen, determined school, Unorthodox and free; Harsh circumstance oft made the rule, And not the M.C.C. 

Explanation :

Even though they don’t have a proper field or follow official rules, the kids are really serious and passionate about their game. They don’t care about the professional cricket rules set by the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club)—they just make up their own rules to fit their situation.

STANZA 4 :

The scorer, seated by the well, Kept up a fire of talk; He was both umpires, crowd, and all, And plied a busy chalk.

Explanation :

There’s a boy sitting near a wall who’s not playing, but he’s just as involved. He’s the scorer, the umpire, the crowd—basically everything at once! He talks constantly and keeps the score by drawing with chalk, probably on the wall or pavement.

STANZA 5 :

 So, standing, musing on the scene, I let the moments pass: How well he drove it to the screen … And then—the crash of glass! 

Explanation :

The poet stands nearby, watching the scene and enjoying the game. One boy plays a brilliant shot—the ball flies powerfully… and then CRASH! It breaks a window! Suddenly, the fun moment turns serious.

STANZA 6 :

I watched the players as they ran, And heard, while yet they fled, The loud voice of an angry man, The law’s majestic tread.

Explanation :

As soon as the glass breaks, the kids drop everything and run away as fast as they can. While they’re running, the poet hears an angry man shouting and then the sound of someone coming, maybe a police officer. The joyful game has ended in trouble.

For solved exercises of this lesson click on the link below : 

https://youtu.be/6EgFTjUVdxE?feature=shared