{{Infobox poem , name = Three Hundred Words , image = , image_size = , caption = , author = Roy Harper , original_title = , translator = , first = ''

Born in Captivity II ''Born in Captivity II'' is a 1992 live album by English Folk music, folk/rock singer-songwriter Roy Harper (singer), Roy Harper. History The album was released as a special edition, limited edition (2,000) Compact cassette, cassette available ...

'' , illustrator = , cover_artist = , country = UK , language = English , series = , subject =

Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

, genre =

Cricket poetry The game of cricket has inspired much poetry, most of which romanticises the sport and its culture. Poems Cricket: An Heroic Poem :Hail, cricket, Glorious, manly, British Game! ::First of all Sports! be first alike in Fame. The poem by James L ...

, publisher = Science Friction , publication_date = {{start date, 1992 , publication_date_en = , media_type =

Compact Cassette The Compact Cassette or Musicassette (MC), also commonly called the tape cassette, cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Ottens ...

, lines = , pages = , size_weight = , isbn = , oclc = , preceded_by = , followed_by = "''Three Hundred Words''" is a poem that showcases a number of Roy Harper's

literary technique A narrative technique (known for literary fictional narratives as a literary technique, literary device, or fictional device) is any of several specific methods the creator of a narrative uses to convey what they want —in other words, a stra ...

s and characteristics. According to Harper's spoken introduction on his 1992 Live album, ''

'', (re-released in 1993 as '' Unhinged'') "Three Hundred Words" was written for a benefit concert for Lancashire batsman,

Graeme Fowler Graeme "Foxy" Fowler (born 20 April 1957) is an English former professional cricketer and cricket coach, who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England, and later for Durham. He appeared in 21 Test matches and 26 One Day Internationa ...

. It not only concerns one of Harper's most oft-cited loves,

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

(see "

When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease" is a track on the Roy Harper album '' HQ'', a prominent example of cricket poetry. Released as a single twice, in 1975 and 1978, it is possibly Harper's best-known song. The song captures the atmosphere o ...

", on the album ''HQ''), it also picks up the themes of England, combining historical reminiscences with current events, using minor observations to make major (political) statements, breaking rhymes across lines, and using clever mixed metaphors. It is, therefore, quintessentially Harper.

:I remember Pat Tetley, :and romping in grass :- that was tall - :at the back of the
cricket field A cricket field is a large grass field on which the game of cricket is played. Although generally oval in shape, there is a wide variety within this: some are almost perfect circles, some elongated ovals and some entirely irregular shapes with l ...
, :trying to catch glimpses :of knickers and
ass Ass most commonly refers to: * Buttocks (in informal American English) * Donkey or ass, ''Equus africanus asinus'' **any other member of the subgenus ''Asinus'' Ass or ASS may also refer to: Art and entertainment * ''Ass'' (album), 1973 albu ...
, :whilst over the fence :the crowd yelled, ooh-ed and roared, :as Ramadhin, Weekes and Frank Worrell all scored... :(partial)

External links

Roy Harper Official Site
Spoken word English poems Cricket on the radio Cultural depictions of cricketers Sports poems 1992 poems