Eight. A perfect little number

Just a bit of fun

Positive unimodular lattice

dwell in dimensions divided by eight.

'Tis vital I'm told to the way of the world,

and my ignorance begs no debate.

But eight on its own is a marvel,

two perfectly plump little O's,

one perched on the top of the other

as around and around this world goes.

For eight is the atomic number

without which mankind would be sunk.

We'd turn blue in the face, as if drifting 

in space and start acting decidedly drunk.

No eights would make spiders uneven

they'd just tumble and roll on their bums.

Spinning blithely away in complete disarray

without their eight fingers and thumbs.

Just eight is the magical number,

of the billions of stars in the sky,

that orbit the girth of our glorious sun,

as it nurtures and warms from on high.

And eight bits used to buy you a coffee

in Starbucks at Broadway and Grand,

(though with taxes of course not included,)

and 'twas instant and awfully bland.

But as I ponder within my gazebo,

a structure most pleasing in shape;

eight sides in an octagon perfect,

I think our Lord made a mistake.

For two O's not just one is the ideal,

and I think it would truly be great,

to be a positive unimodular lattice

in a dimension divided by eight.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Eight, or the symbol that represents the number, is also the emblem for infinity. My wife's wedding band is an infinity ring in an eight symbol. I enjoyed your poem. It was light-hearted and witty.

[emmajoy]

Love it, absolutely! You teach, you display, you bewilder, you amaze; plus both meter and vocabulary is as skilful as skilful be. This is a mathematical remedy for lack of vision, pleasure and thought - thank you!!

[Jimmy Yetts]

Where do I fit in?--a man who's spent most of his life behind the eight-ball.
Since your reviews have obviously made the word "delightful" glaringly trite, I can only describe this poem as cleverly fashioned and intellectually pleasing.
Greatly enjoyed the read, Beccy!

[Ken Simm.]

A much abused word these days is delightful ; but this is. I am reminded of lots of things here from my childhood, from the songs of Harry Neilson to Lear and Barry. A lovely, lovely piece.

[terry smith]

I agree with Michael, truly delightful!! :)

[Michael G. Smith]

An awesome and most delightful piece!

[....................]

A clever and unique write, Beccy, though the math is outside my area of expertise :) ... this is thoroughly entertaining.

[Donald Meikle]

eight days a week was a term the Four wrote about. Your inspiration is adorable.

[Neville]

Absolutely deleightful my dear, fun to read and a delieght to have writ, I'm sure, it certainly made me chuckle over and over...... Neville

[Beccy]

Thanks Charlie, glad you enjoyed.

Beccy.