The Essay

A student essay is a Shakespearean tragedy;

We play the ladies Macbeth, Montageau, and Macduff,

All parts dying, one part trying.

The teacher commands us like fate,

They order us to craft a paper:

One with a thesis, three paragraphs, and conclusion;

One with Times New Roman 12 pt font, double spaced, 

One inch margins, and annotated citations.

It feels like my conclusion.

The blank page stares at me, mocking.

When your hands shake,

How can you build a house of cards?

There’s nothing you can make.

I read the directions.

The teacher requires from us an essay: 

One with a thesis, three paragraphs, and conclusion;

One with Times New Roman 12 pt font, double spaced, 

One inch margins, and annotated citations.

If only that was it. 

For an A paper, the teacher needs more;

A paper with coherent ideas, a thesis with tension,

A paper with suspense, like creepy folklore.

The teacher wants a paper well written,

Words flowing like song,

But I am a fish out of water,

Even the gasps of air sounding wrong.

In desperation, I reread the directions.

The teacher needs a paper:

One with a thesis, three paragraphs, and conclusion;

One with Times New Roman 12 pt font, double spaced, 

One inch margins, and annotated citations.

Okay, okay. This isn’t what I need;

I need a formula, one “solve for a good essay.”

After brewing with three witches, I concoct a recipe:

An outline as the pot,

Evidence as ingredients, 

Commentary as the boiling water.

I cook up some essay,

And though it’s far from an A paper,

Far from a masterpiece,

I’m proud to be its maker.