Open University poetry assignment.  March 2018

Challenges

Begin, the bell sounds, the contestants awaken,
the blood and brains, pours out at last,
hands and brows sweating.

No time to be afraid, but it’s too much to be taken,
when being thick-set, pounding heart,
with blackened eyes swelling.

Why didn’t I learn, for goodness sake-mun,
when I took the bet, to play it smart,
is it really telling?

The referee steps in, and declares time is forsaken,
my hopes and dreams wane, but I have to impart,
the exam paper for vetting.