A MASTERTEAM MISS

Posted by Admin on 7 April 2009, 12:00 am

Admitting her reluctance, she
then chose geography, became
of three the focal point.
The questions came, precise, diverse,
and posed with polished expertise,
and ranging wide from Pakistan
to Britain’s deepest loch.
The seconds passed, the audience
in silence heard each answer fail;
but when a buzzer stemmed the flow
of words, like automata set
in motion by a hidden spring,
they clapped – their thoughtless hands,
well meant, adverted her disgrace.
At home I sensed the irony
of undeserved applause.
Amused? Not I. A zero would
have marked my score.