marking papers

[fledgist]

not given much to metaphor as fact

the student struggles to relate her tale

each sentence on its own will sag or fail

the effort turns out bloated not compact

her model is the sermon and the tract

and writing comes to her like time in gaol

the style is cold the images are stale

and the whole enterprise with pain is packed

the reader wants so much to go outside

and take his whirling thoughts for a long walk

but finishing the job is all his pride

so from the horrid task he dare not balk

no leave nor yet excuse he has to plead

so the next essay he picks up to read