The Oral Exam Poem by Adam Lally

Face the class
your grade is at stake

your frail hands sh-sh-sh-shake
the lump in the throat sinking fast

As those faces linger with lambaste
your quivering lips slowly fade

Your eyes swell as tears cascade
the joints in the knee wobble abashed

The pitch in the voice assertively slashed
your fidgety feet itching to evade
in front of this masquerade

They say, as they silently impeach
no need to worry it's just a speech
Piece of cake.