Ode to a Standardized Test

You require my students to arrive on time, 

clear their testing area,

turn in their devices,

and remain silent during directions.
Such sweet silence.

You provide scratch paper, 

with a firm suggestion to use it,

even if is is not required, 

and a sharpened pencil.

In other words, use both--

please remember the outline

or suffer the guilt.
Guilt for growth,
some might say.

Not that it means anything to you,

but I will remember the peppermints.
Children whisper thanks 

to the generous lady

like orphans 

in an old-school asylum,

hungry for a sweet.

You are so generous with your time,

and for that we are grateful,

especially for the students

who will take all day, in fact,

with their lunch tray beside

their laptop,

either because they are crafting

the most intricate of essays

in response to your 

titillating prompts

or they are left wordless in the face 

of this challenge.

E.g. 

Most schools offer a variety of activities, 

classes, and clubs. Identify one 

of these that students enjoy 

and explain why they enjoy it. 

Include specific details 

and examples in your response.

Oh, the three-prong thesis statements

our students will write,

thanks to your grand invitation.

Then the body paragraphs

with examples

from real-life, we hope,

that are both vivid and specific.

(Transitional words and phrases

are big point-earners, we hear.)

Finally, the conclusion paragraph that 

rephrases that thesis 

and a summary

of the main points, of course,

before the call to action.

Oh! That conclusion that answers,

So what?

That last question,

they report back,

is always a tough one.