Exam Thoughts
by Helena Xiao, Lauriston Girls’ School
Finalist, Years 7 – 8, written poetry
I remember me,
stepping into the exam hall,
filled with anxiety,
the short command, “Start!”
Flipping over my paper, appalled,
then, a great companion of mine
patted my shaky hands,
ideas popped up
as I began to practice my art,
words flying across the page,
idea after idea, desperate to be named,
“20 minutes left!”
My hands started to sweat.
Flipping to the next page,
my words a scene of carnage.
The clock was ticking,
my hands were shaking,
scribbling the last words.
No time to waste,
I quickly checked my essay,
correcting spelling mistakes,
filled with dismay,
my hands began to ache,
and then a sudden brake,
at the teacher’s shout
I looked out the window
distracting myself with birds,
pitying my friend’s pout.
Then came results day,
a sunny, lovely Friday.
I stared, once again at my exam companion,
how had it not run out of ink?
A classmate’s cry of dismay,
as my heart began to sink,
and then, as my paper was dropped on my desk,
I was terrified, I confess.
Yet some part of me picked it up,
and a gasp, worrying if it was made up,
placing it on the desk,
cupping my mouth with my hands,
The teacher turned to glance,
before giving me a thumbs-up.
A red, fluorescent letter,
of a score nothing could be better.
I had not needed to worry,
for I, and my assistant, had done just as I pleased.
Want to read more poems? Explore the other Years 7 – 8 finalists.