why you can't understand page 56 of your textbook

These days the words are conspiring
shifty and slithery
appearing innocent
standing in wait for you
then melting and dripping
unfocused and hazy
obscured
insignificant as your eyes gloss over them.

when you narrow down on them
clasp them tight with obstinacy
you become lost in their intricacies
the admirable stature of the b
and the tight curl of the e.

but they're hollow
empty shells.
you've reached the end of page 56
and you realize that the marrow
was never there in the words.
they conspired.

you shut the textbook
and sigh, rubbing your head
blaming lack of sleep
or perhaps lack of interest
but deep down you're certain
the words on page 56
only pretend to explain macro-economics.

they are mischievous little characters
playing tricks
slithering and dancing
slipping and sliding all over the place
and fleeing once you stare them down
so what's left are shells--
page 56 is nothing but empty shells.

Well said.

blaming lack of sleep

This is often the first explanation that often comes to mind when you experience study fatigue. You chose your words well and each one packed a punch. Words like "dripping", "melting", "slithery" are all very descriptive and, in that sense, helps bring the appeal of your poem to a wider audience. With that said, your poem is not a cliche.

when you narrow down on them
clasp them tight with obstinacy
you become lost in their intricacies
the admirable stature of the b
and the tight curl of the e.

but they're hollow
empty shells.
you've reached the end of page 56
and you realize that the marrow
was never there in the words.
they conspired.

I have never considered the "tight curl of the e" or the realization that "the marrow was never there in the words" but I loved this nevertheless and I encourage you to keep writing. Very uniquely written with an appeal transcending the page or screen it was written on.

Sincerely,
-Elitehusky

Thanks for the review Elitehusky. I appreciate it. And I'm glad you liked the poem. =)

Hi there...
I get this feeling altogether too often.
And it was wonderfully described here.. it was great how you started with the emotion, and then described where it was stemming from.. when I'm studying, oftentimes I actually forget that I'm supposed to be reading my textbook and just stop and think, "Why am I feeling so crappy?" And then I remember.
So it fit that scene perfectly.

Great job.. love the word choice and phrasing. The cadence was quite nice as well.

-Coral-