Saturday, July 20, 2013

The Equation That Did Not Add Up


one would have thought that 1 + 1

would have had more value as 2.

as the single and solitary nature of 1

was multiplied by itself.

the problem was that I divided myself

becoming a fraction of who I was.

to fill the voids and the places in you

that will probably never be whole.

by nature the act of taking

makes less of what it takes.

leaving less than the original sum

a negative number marked in red.

I thought by adding to the fragments of you

the halves, the quarters, and thirds.

that I could calculate an equation

that would result in the numbers adding up.

but sitting with paper and pencil

my eraser worn down to a nub.

I am scratching out numbers +, -, divide

but the math is never quite right.

%’s and decimals, fractions, fragments

the quotient fails to become a whole.

1 + 1 = 2, but 1 x 1 is still 1.

so 2 – 1 again became

simply 1 and 1.

1 more whole than the other

1 always seeking another 1. 

 

 

 

15 comments:

  1. So true...sometimes equations don't add up. Sometimes one plus one remains one. And fragments never compute. Sometimes math, when it comes to one, just doesn't make sense!!

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  2. the problem was that I divided myself
    becoming a fraction of who I was.
    to fill the voids and the places in you
    that will probably never be whole.

    that is a whole story right there in those two lines...and the close as well...one trying to find another to feel whole...hard numbers that, you know....

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  3. oh... interesting poem...numbers also become illogical sometimes...when it comes to matters entrusted with the heart...
    -HA

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  4. So much to your words here, Andrea. I really like how you pointed out the 1+1=2 and 1x1=1... and (because I can relate):

    the problem was that I divided myself
    becoming a fraction of who I was.
    to fill the voids and the places in you
    that will probably never be whole.

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  5. I wish all math was this poetic! LOVE this!

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  6. So beautiful...trying to divide oneself leaves a void. Such a creative write!

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  7. what a strong poem of loss 2-1=1... and how to multiply? yes a difficult calculation indeed. Wonderful poem

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  8. A very apt summing up of many relationships - so painful. Super well described. Thanks. k.

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  9. the problem was... some others already mentioned that part as well...stuck out to me too... i think it's perfect when 1 plus 1 makes 1 - that's the magic in math - and it never fits quite right..

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  10. Andrea, this is excellent! i feel you here truly... or maybe, you don't just wrote a story of you but a story of us...& the many of us who have been through such pain...this is a favorite today & keep telling it like it is... smiles...

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  11. so true, Andrea. an interesting approach on a relationship... definitely got me thinking.
    maybe the numbers never add up?
    ~miriam

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  12. As Brian and Laurie quote those lines really capture a huge amount - great writing.

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  13. Wow! Incredible metaphors.

    Especially liked:

    I thought by adding to the fragments of you

    the halves, the quarters, and thirds.

    that I could calculate an equation

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  14. One is the loneliest number, the song says, and you show that though that may be so, it often has more value. At least that's how these functions and numbers added up to me. And I agree! We can go through a lot before learning that.

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