Anais Vionet Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

testing - one two three

We scooted back to Paris last week, 
to the sweltering capital of romance,
where I took a series of employment tests, 
in bright rooms where they timed my answers.

Let’s see, there was: a two day, two part 
“statistics and aptitude test,” 
a set of “analytical, quantitative screenings,” 
a personality inventory, two cognitive ability tests, 
a leadership judgment exercise and three, blind 
structured interviews where they didn’t know who I am.
(that my Grandmère owns the entire circus.)
THOSE were fun.

There’s nothing like the humiliating theatricality of being 
asked to summarize yourself in a job interview.
I’ll let the embarrassment speak for itself.

Don’t shed any tears for me - I’ve spent my entire life 
being assessed, by teachers, family, strangers in bars
- as have you. 

But it was the first time I’ve ever become entangled
in the machinery of respectable work and tried to look employable.

I think modern evaluation is half judgment, half performance art.
YOU know I’m a mess, I mean, you read me - but what do they know?

They never directly asked whether I’m sane, but I think 
they wanted to know if I could sound sane in a boardroom.

I’m going to work for my Grandmère.
Part time, because I’m still going to be at university.

“Why do I have to take these tests,” I whined,
“aren’t I a nepo-baby - don’t I have *rights*??!!

“Anyone who’s being hired into management, 
by any decent company has to take these tests,”
she assured me, as if explaining something to a dog.

Adding, “You SEEM reasonably intelligent, but I could be biased.”
“I should hope so,” I mumbled, pouting like a 5-year-old. 

I won’t lie, there was some emotional pressure in all of this.
I mean, I DO deserve all of my advantages, don’t I?

If I was going to do this, I genuinely needed to be taken seriously.

It appears that I’ll be joining the bureaucratic meritocracy,
in September.
.
.
A song for this:
Triangular Girl by Pearl & The Oysters

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Vincine Fallica July 5, 2026 at 5:20 AM Geeze, sounds like you’re up for handling the nuclear codes. I suppose being a cog in a machine with resources at that scale could cause as much damage if not judiciously engaged. But still, you’ll get to work in Paris so there’s that. / We had a party over here yesterday. France gifted us a light show on her previous gift of Miss Liberty. That was very nice. / I’ve taken enough photos in years past, so I hid under the covers this time. I just wasn’t feeling it this year. / <3 Anais Vionet July 6, 2026 at 6:11 AM Fireworks are fun, drone shows too but I’m developing a phobia of large crowds - like you see on TV for New Years in NYC. Never Ever would I.