figure it out

you understand math
    so it's safe to say
 you'll never get me

there's at least two of me
(probably more like 13)
     is that prime?
           does it sit well
                            play with the others

is the seat beside 13
   empty of malice
and at least 3 times
   less than
the worst of these
     sins?

the second time,
            my words stole
your abacus
     and kicked your slide rule
straight out of the game
          did you see?

you're 90 degrees worth of
          protracted
          blame
so you slide down slow,
            ill add up quick
   all the many ways
               your math ain't s**t

27 lines of truth

                 rest their case

far greater than half
     the sum of you
         times me

Reviews

[J_Star]

Did you see that poem "Creation" a while back in WIRED? It was written in code.

[Cool Handless Luke]

an interesting formula. bridging math into poetry in a way that works. i love the ending " the sum of you times me" the calculations here speak to the difficulties of a relationship.

[Tree]

My math was never any good, but these words all add up to one damn good poem. I do hope that the poet's object of this math ''lesson'' got the opportunity to sit through his exam. Excellent piece.

[John]

It's very well done, slangy and witty. The monologue at least suggests that the speaker is trying to understand the world of abstract figures. Perhaps a companion piece would serve as a reply to her in which there is no concession to her world view, but a resolute defence of the empirical perspective.

[Emily B]

once in a while i discover a poem in an unknown tongue . . . i don't understand the logic of your numbers, i am lost to the rational, but i find your poem brilliant all the same

[Horizon K.]

poet vs mathematician... words crafted into art vs. laws of numbers that explain the universe... I wonder who wins this argument...
This was interesting and very fun to read, like a puzzle. The opening stanza was fierce and the rest of this was sassy and pizazzy. And I do love math... and poetry...

[ChemicalMadness]

Sadly ill only ever be competent (some might argue my liberal use of the definition) in one. So glad you enjoyed!

[Horizon K.]

I'm more a fan of math, conceptually.... As for being particularly great at it... Well...:)

[shythatway]

Oh, the numerous ways to approach this.. *smirk* Could be anything from missing disciples and the ranging of pride, to cubics or complimentary angles. I'm terrible at math. I've read that the answer is 42, regardless, and I believe it.

But.. 90 degrees of protracted blame? *grin* (I'm left with the question: When was the first time?)

[ChemicalMadness]

Are you familiar with the saying "the first time, shame on you, the second time, shame on me"? Hopefully that stanza will benefit from formatting, which I hope to get to today. That's what happens when I scribble on my iPad. Stupid browser.

[shythatway]

No, haven't heard that saying. (Well, that's a lie, 'cause now I have. But not before..). I'm adding it to my book of lessons. Formatting, yes.. a thought came back to me. If it stays, I'll pm it to you later.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Well, I'm not a numbers person, so this was a little difficult for me to understand lol Seriously, though, I feel the longing, the quiet forlorn feelings. You have such a beautiful way of showing tragedy in the prettiest of lights.

[gabrielle]

The first stanza captured my attention. =) i am "number-phobic" and reading math concepts in here nauseates me (kidding). i must say, you are brilliantly creative to come out with a piece like this.

[Frieda P]

I don't jive with numbers, hate math, give me words any day of the week, which you did, mixed in with your genius equations here, which I'm sure I'd never figure out! Nice one CM.