15 Minutes

Left, ticking on the clock,
just like through the looking glass
where Alice used to wait -
for something to happen,
learn something new and shiny and bright
without the pressures from the Queen.

Hearts beating, rhythm constant,
beat, beat, beat... tick, tick, tick;
and yet hands fly across the page.
The silence; weighted, axes
above their necks, listening
for orders to come from above
and bring them slicing down.

They thought treason had caused their fate
but they just ran out of time.
Pens dropping with clatters and the sighs,
an orchestra of voices, spiralling
through air and thoughts, fears and hopes.
They don't know which bottle to drink,
if the cake can be trusted -
desperation makes it easy to click the ruby heels
and pray that home is close by.

Labels wrap themselves around
the pinky finger of each lost soul;
they tried - they really, really tried,
in investigations, complex mazes,
to answer everything you asked.
But it's finished now,
the war is done. Come out from under cover.
Alice is back in the real world,
this IB exam is over. 

Author's Note

IB is International Baccalaureate, the diploma I am sitting at the moment before Uni. However I think the poem itself can be translated for any kind of exam :) Leave comments!

Reviews

[Trigorin]

Not bad. You have a good concept and you express it fairly well. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of heightened imagery through the piece, as, with the exception of the third stanza, this is all very urbane. Either way, this is well-written and professional. Well done.

[Storm K.]

Thanks for the constructive review :) Much appreciated!

[blueholmes]

oh WOW!! so creative!! i love how you relate things well :)) i hope you the result is great for that exam :)) and the poem itself it's pretty interesting, you're such an awesome writer!! keep on inspiring!! :)

[Storm K.]

thank you, it really means a lot! :)

[Buddhistboy73]

Wow! Love the way you have used an exam to express such deep emotions here. And the words that you use take the reader on an emotional journey, like all good poetry. I for one am glad you sat this exam.
Loved the last stanza in particular.
BB

[Storm K.]

haha, thank you very much for the review! I'm glad you liked it :)

[patti]

i like the creative comparison that you made, enjoyed reading the poem... nice job!

[patricia]

I loved the voice in this...probably due to most of the word empasis being on first syllables. Such great atmosphere and superb descriptions. Realy enjoyed.

[Storm K.]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[Nick.B]

Yeah I know the feeling, been there too...great job on this one

[Storm K.]

Thanks, really appreciated :)

[The Fallen]

Amazing poem!! I loved it :3

[Storm K.]

Thank you!

[Dark Rider]

I loved it! What else can I say? You do such an amazing job with all.of your writings. I can't wait to see more of what you come up with. :)

[Storm K.]

awww, you're too nice :3 Thanks hun!

[Dark Rider]

I'm only stating the truth. ;) And you're welcome.