Nancy Ann Schaefer: THE EXAMINATION

Nancy Ann Schaefer holds a Ph.D. in sociology, and both a master's and bachelor’s degree in history. After she worked in Europe for 20 years, she recently returned to her Midwestern roots and teaches at a public university in Illinois. She enjoys reading and writing poetry every chance she gets.

Nancy wrote this poem while living in Liverpool, UK, invigilating a final exam in American Studies. She said in her context statement: “So the 'place' is a classroom (or in this case, an examination hall). At that time at my college (before semester system was introduced) exams were given only once at the end the academic year. Students were given three hours to answer three essay questions (not given in advance nor open book`)--much pressure! So one year while I was waiting to announce the start of the exam, I wrote this 'concrete' poem (you'll notice the letter it forms....).” The letter the poem forms has a similar power to a poem's last line that makes you yell, yeah.

THE EXAMINATION

The hush in the room is strained
hearts race
palms perspire
pencils poise
papers rustle
fingers drum nervously on
desk tops
knuckles crack
eyes dart
mouths dry
as the
punctilious
proctor
announces the
start of
the exam.