Exam Fever Poem by Raymond Farrell

Exam fever
Has descended
On Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
For the past week
The large open air area
Making up the ground floor
Of building 18
Has a throng of students
Sitting on benches
Or pacing up and down
All repeating softly
But audibly
Passages of study material
They are keen
On memorizing
The steady drone
Rises and falls in pitch
Like a Gregorian Chant
Being conducted by the faithful
The ritual goes well
Into the night
All these students
Share a single room
With 5 other students
So out of politeness
To their fellow room mates
All do their exam preparation
In open air patios
And vacant classrooms
Across the campus
None appear panicked
But all carry
A look of seriousness
On their faces
That wasn't there
A month ago.