The Test

There are no notes for her to study
but there's a test that she must take
she must pass each level well
or the next she must forsake

she hopes, beyond all doubt
that from other's mistakes she's somehow learned
and although her wounds are still hurting
from all the times that she's been burned

she takes her place and waits in line
hoping that she won't fail
intuitively she knows that life
should not be this kind of hell

she's not a fake or a phony
like so many she has met
she thinking maybe she can cheat
but there's no such thing to pass this test

she sits down to undertake
the hardest exam she's ever had
she grabs her pen and then replaces
it with a pencil, #2 lead.

she thinks often of the past
and beats herself for past mistakes
wishing she could take this pencil
and go back and just erase

But instead, she takes a breath
and then exhales while reading "question 1"
"who have you hurt?" is the first
suddenly, she simply wants to run

how can she pass a test unfair
untrue to anyone who tries
the grades given, not A's or B's
truth never uncovered, only lies

See, no matter how she answers
her reports are tainted by her view
because this test of life she's taking
has 3 sides, hers, theirs, and the truth.

S. Green