The exam paper

She looked at the test paper
and knew it held her future
would she go forward to life
of face another lecture

on how she can do better
if she only applies
how would they know, she thought,
they're just along for the ride

she wouldn't succeed -
it was her mothers old life
she wanted to be a doctor
not a boring house-wife

she crumpled the page
that lay before her
her gateway out
the open door

a thought flashed before her
did she really want to fail?
what good would rebelling do?
how could she possibly provail?

she closed her eyes
lay her tired head down
hoping when she arose
there'd be no one around

no one to watch
in that big, exam hall
no one to catch her
if she ever did fall

one last look
at the blank sheet
should she answer the questions?
or face her defeat