Spelling Bee

a poem by Jessica Whistman

The day of the bee

they call down

the participants

I walk into the cafeteria

I see my mom

there to support me

I see faces

old and new

we draw numbers

to determine the order

in which we will spell

we sit in our places

on the stage

the bee begins

a minute later

it’s my turn

I get up and go over to

the microphone

the pronouncer

gives me my word

slowly

deliberately

I spell it

then the judges say

that is correct

I sit back down

with a sigh

of relief

then by round nine

it’s just me

and one other competitor

we spell

back and forth

back and forth

until

it’s my opponent’s turn

to spell

he gets his word

he spells

then the judges say

that is incorrect

my heart pounds

I stand up

and walk

to the mic

the pronouncer

repeats the word

this time

she’s saying it for me

I carefully

thoughtfully

spell it

one letter at a time

the judges say

that is correct

my head spins

mind racing

gotta stay focused

then my next word

and I realize

I know this word

I spell it

the audience breaks out

applauding me

I won!

Then the lady hands me

my beautiful trophy

and I go off

to congratulate my opponent

on a job well done.

Author's Note: This is my first submission to this site! I have works on , though, under the penname Mylinda Antoinette, if you want, please check them out! In the meantime, please review!