She’s never heard this word before, and that gives her a scare
It wasn’t on her study list, and that just seems unfair

But there’s also something less unpleasant settling in her mind
A sense of righteous apathy, relief of a certain kind

She’ll either get it right or not, she only has to try
"Definition please?" She asks, and a powerful voice replies…

"Fertilization by cross-pollination
Especially between flowers on different plants."
She thinks, "That doesn’t help me, it never does."
She sighs and gives the ceiling a glance

Was it really worth the flashcards, the hours of memorization?
Do types of words nobody needs, deserve so much dedication?

Realizing, maybe I am only here ‘cuz some fool wants a song to start with X
For a moment she just stands there, twiddling her thumbs, thinking of flower sex

This spelling bee is just a flower, one small stop for a bee like me
X-E-N-O-G-A-M-E

This man behind the table, even he has to have checked
He makes a face, and then he says, "I’m sorry but that’s incorrect."

Dad’s smile drops, as does mom’s hand, her phone no longer filming
Excitedly their daughter skips away, decidedly leaving the building