A day passes by

Second after second, minute after minute, hour after hour

For what seems like consuming task

Impossible, cower

So I try, I try one, I try another

I try all those that exist

I try his method, her method, whoever’s method

And I stay, unable to resist

I try to fight the paper, who is duly equipped

I fail to pierce its impenetrable shield

I slip one way or another

On uneven footing in this field

I look at the clock, taunting me

I look at the teacher reading silently

I look at the door temptingly

I look at the paper frustratingly

I go above or below looking for its achilles’ heel

I slip under and to the side looking around its tough armor

I look at my enemy in the eye and feel the fear, the desperation

The cold darkness, fear of forever imprisonment

Yet suddenly, a glimmer of light

A point of weakness, a solution to my madness

I jot down, line after line, picking my own lock

I look at the paper, with courage

I write down my answer, feeling accomplished

I defeated my enemy, won the battle

Found its achilles’ heel

As I stare on, I see more antagonists on the horizon

Yet here I am, equipped with only my pencil

The most powerful tool of all