the big-bellied man bellows
ten minutes left, testers, ten minutes left.
pleading eyes search the endless
scantron and find a sea of spiraling bubbles,
A, B, C, D’s swimming together.
a chipped pencil fishes for answers,
it is hesitant,
frightened to explore untraveled oceans,
waters unknown to years of preparation.
flick-Flickering lights,
click-Clacking nails,
tick-Ticking minutes,
Flick, Click, Tick; the room is too bright too loud too fast.
and I
am
drowning,
drowning,
sweat from my palms
dripping,
dripping.
it is high tide now,
the waves of the future pull me under as
I am pleading: where is my life
vest?
ten minutes define a score
water fills my lungs
ten minutes define hopes and dreams
it is getting hard to breathe
ten minutes define
me?
am I a 1540, 33, 4.0, 4.7, three 5’s, two 4’s, and that goddamn 3?
destined to fight the unrelentless
currents of expectations as onlooking
sailors pass by singing shanties of
percentiles & gpa’s?
the big-bellied man bellows
time’s up, testers, time’s up,
and I
forget how to swim.
forget how to swim.
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ReplyDeleteI really like how this poem uses many poetic devices to get its ideas across. That these exams are important, and it may feel like they define who you are.
ReplyDeleteYour poem was beautiful! I would say my favorite aspect of it was that you connected school, the stress of taking a test, and expectations to swimming in the ocean really well. The images you used really bring your poem to life. My favorite line was, "destined to fight the unrelentless currents of expectations as onlooking sailors pass by singing shanties of percentiles and gpa's." I really connect to the urgency you display when someone is taking a test, especially a scantron and how scores can define you. I think this is a feeling that many people can relate to you, and you did a great job displaying it!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line in this poem is when you said, "am I a 1540, 33, 4.0, 4.7,..." I think that this make the poem extremely relatable while making sure that your message is not directly stated.
ReplyDeleteI really like the continued use of the "sea" metaphor throughout and how you bring it full circle with the last line.
ReplyDelete