Chapter 11 The Winner Summary & Notes

Detailed Summary: The Winner

About the Poet

Georgia Heard, a renowned poet, author, and educator, is known for her profound ability to capture emotions and experiences through her poetry. She has a unique talent for weaving vivid imagery and evocative language into her works, making them resonate deeply with readers of all ages. Heard’s poetry often explores themes of nature, childhood, and the beauty found in everyday moments.

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem consists of three stanzas.
• The setting of the poem is near a creek in a neighbor’s field where children play ball.
• The first stanza sets the scene of the children playing near the creek in the evening.
• In the second stanza, the children run so fast that they are out of breath.
• The third stanza describes how the game ends as night falls, symbolizing the victory of night over day.

Detailed Summary

Stanza 1
Evenings,
we play ball
next to the creek
in our neighbor’s field.
Explanation:

• In this stanza, the poet describes the setting of the poem. It is evening time, and the children are playing ball beside a creek in a field that belongs to their neighbor.
• The mention of “Evenings” sets the time as dusk, a peaceful and calming time of the day.
• The phrase “we play ball” indicates that the children are engaged in a playful activity, enjoying their time together.
• The creek and the neighbor’s field create a picturesque scene, emphasizing the simplicity and joy of childhood activities in a natural setting.

Stanza 2
We run so fast
I
can’t
even
Catch
My
breath.
Explanation:

• This stanza captures the excitement and energy of the children playing. They are running so fast that the speaker cannot even catch their breath.
• The repetition of short phrases like “I,” “can’t,” and “even” conveys the quick pace of the running and the breathlessness experienced by the speaker.
• The use of enjambment (continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line) adds to the sense of urgency and movement in the scene.
• The physical activity of running and the inability to catch one’s breath suggest a high level of energy and enthusiasm in the game being played.

Stanza 3
When blue dark turns to black,
cold grass aches our feet,
trees creep close—
game’s over.
Night wins!
Explanation:

• In this stanza, the poet describes the transition from dusk to night, signaling the end of the children’s game.
• The imagery of “blue dark turns to black” depicts the gradual darkening of the sky as night approaches.
• The sensation of “cold grass aches our feet” conveys the physical discomfort felt by the children as the game comes to a close.
• The trees “creep close,” possibly symbolizing the encroaching darkness and the end of the playful atmosphere.
• The statement “game’s over. Night wins!” signifies the inevitable conclusion of the children’s playtime as darkness envelops the surroundings. 

Theme/Message

Themes:

• Childhood innocence and joy
• The passage of time
• The inevitable transition from day to night

Message:

• The poem celebrates the carefree and joyful nature of childhood play.
• It highlights the fleeting nature of youth and emphasizes the beauty found in simple, everyday moments.
• By depicting the shift from day to night, the poem conveys a sense of transition and the cyclical nature of time.

Difficult Words

1. Aches: To suffer a continuous dull pain.
2. Creep: To move slowly and quietly, often to avoid being noticed.
3. Victory: The act of defeating an opponent in a competition.
4. Neighbour: A person living next door or very close by.
5. Fast: Moving or capable of moving at high speed.
6. Breath: The air taken into or expelled from the lungs.
7. Dark: With little or no light.
8. Grass: A low-growing plant that people often use as a lawn covering.
9. Cold: Having a low temperature, especially when compared to the temperature of the human body.
10. Trees: Tall plants with a single main stem or trunk that support branches and leaves.
11. Over: At an end; no longer in progress.
12. Ball: A solid or hollow spherical or egg-shaped object that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game.
13. Field: An area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture.
14. Blue: Having the color of the clear sky or the deep sea.
15. Black: The darkest color due to the absence or complete absorption of light.