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the test of time
I sit with my fingers clenched
around the shaft of my pen
legs crossed elbows leaning
waiting for the paper to
shift into view make its debut
dance through the shifting
shadows that splatter on
my desk I think about maybe
carving my name dragging
the tip deep slashing into
the smudged wood laminate
over and over except they
might take off points for that
so I uncross my legs slide forward
dig in my heels glare at the clock
finger the lost hillocks of gum on
the underside and wonder about
the mouths teeth saliva DNA
messages hidden in this plastic
grave maybe I could cheat
but a little late for that as I've
no scrib no inked palm no mirrors
or knowledge of what comes next
no intimation at all of what's to be
on this test I glance right and left
think maybe a friend but no only
unknown souls spit polished prepared
fingers ready to prance like jackrabbits
leaving the lair quick as can be into
the hole leaving me standing there
staring looking stupid wondering where
the next shot will come from where
my own little hidey hole might be
and as the door creaks as the figure
takes some steps closer then closer
to me I hope to god this
is multiple choice and I can
figure the damn difference
between A and B and C
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Comment by: jkaber - 2006-05-26 09:17
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| Oh, thank you JP! I was hoping someone would see it that way as that is what the title implies. But like all literature, it can be read on many levels. |
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| Funny thing - looking at the other comments, I didn't read it literally at all. It feels to me like a statement about an approach to life. Running out of time, not knowing the answers, wondering about all those people around us that seem to know what to do, wondering where on earth we can hide. It reads well literally, but it comes across even stronger for me as a metaphor. |
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Comment by: Manda - 2006-05-13 23:26
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being one of those weird kids in school that never needed to study, and also a self-proclaimed mistress of BS, test taking was never every difficult for me (yeah it's lame I know) but this poem really made me think about all the kids over my school years who would nudge me wanting answers. multiple choice is the salvation for millions and I really enjoyed this poem. the flow works well, like the rambling thoughts you occupy your mind with when you can't figure out an answer to a question.
only thing I'd say would be removing 'my' from the first line, other than that, an incredibly well done piece. |
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Comment by: jkaber - 2006-05-13 17:37
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| Don't know. I'm still trying to figure it out. Have they handed out the tests yet???? |
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Comment by: - 2006-05-13 17:33
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Okay Judy eyes on your own paper are you deliberately trying to be contrary stop daydreaming sit up straight and take the ridalin!
seriously though - its a good thing you can trip and then come back and tell the rest of us pedestrians what you saw in your head. This is good revery for its own sake. IS there a difference between a b and c? I was absent that day. |
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