Examination Day

Exam fear is an inexorable part of every child's life. This piece is my attempt to channelise the mumbo-jumbo that occurs in my brain . Hope you can relate .

"Beep! Beep! Beep!..."
 My ears spring up in terror,
 My eyes open with a painful shudder.
 A monstrous fear fondles my head.
 My muscles communicate : "Darling, stay in   bed!"
 
Groggily, I reach the bathroom sink.
I see the Examination Monster give me a loathing wink.
My hands tremble over the toothpaste tube.
For, I just forgot the formula for the volume of a cube.

Fearfully, I pull the belt around
my white-and-green pinaform
I suddenly lose control of my tie.
Thirty-two is two raised to the power of four or five?

Indices and Algebra plunged into battle,
Calculus came for me in full throttle.
Geometry and I were betrothed enemies still,
while Trigonometry was the Lion, and I, the kill.

Breakfast couldn't slide down my throat.
My intestines twisted into a kindred knot.
Through the window laden with dust,
I viewed with dread: My yellow school bus.

I shut my eyes .
Drowned the butterflies.
"You'll be okay..." , my Mommy told.
O Lord! What fate do you propose to unfold?

In a whirlwind,
I reached the Examination hall.
With every step forward, my confidence took an epic fall.

It was only for three hours.
It seemed so ne'er , yet so far.
I stitched together my waning threads.
Now, I had to make amends.

I fought harder than Napoleon.
I was valiant like Genghis Khan.
I persevered through every inch of the paper.
And not once did I feel my hopes taper.

"Tringgg! Tringgg! Tringg!" went the school bell.
It was such a mellifluous melody
that it humbled my atrocious agony.

I floated out.
I had ended my uphill bout.

I had terminated my dreadful foray.
Thus, came to an end
My Examination Day!

Author's Note

My rhyme scheme may be a bit groggy. Please be kind enough to ignore it :)

Reviews

[Poetic License]

Wow, does that bring back memories! I love the humor interspersed with stark terror. You certainly managed to convey the emotions experienced facing any examination, whether it be of arithmetic kind or career interviews.

I think this works better as a free flowing piece rather than confining it to rhyme (says the woman who has written EXACTLY two rhyming poems, neither of which are worth a sneeze), but I think you convey the emotion better outside of the rhyme, it flows more naturally and freely.

"You'll be okay..." , my Mommy told.
O Lord! What fate do you propose to unfold?

Favorite. Line. Ever. I laughed, literally, out loud when I read that. Oh yes, everyone can relate to this poem.

Well done. I certainly enjoyed it.

[Moonie]

The rhymes don't scan that well at certain places...but other than that, I really like how crisp and fresh your writing is! You really made me remember those awful days...well written!

[Tanvi Banjan]

I can totally relate to this!!! Amazing job!!