Function of Text Structure: Poetry Practice Test

Read the poem below, composed of two stanzas of equal length.

Stanza 1:

In the meeting, I nod

at words like “deliverables,”

my smile a mask

that fits too well.

Stanza 2:

In the elevator alone,

my face falls open.

The mirror shows

how tired I am

of being fluent

in pretending.

How does the poem’s two-stanza structure contribute to its meaning?

Read the poem below, a speaker’s reflection after donating blood.

The nurse tapes cotton

to the crook of my arm

like a small white flag.

In the waiting area,

I sip juice,

watch others

hold their bandages

as if holding a promise.

Outside, the day continues

indifferent and bright.

Somewhere,

my blood is traveling

without me.

How does the poem’s structure—moving from the immediate procedure to a widening sense of distance—contribute to its meaning?