one plus one equals two

if we’re comparing decimals 
i think the dewey kind 
I loved perusing card files
for books I sought to find
a statement that’s conditional
shouldn’t need an if and then
if you were to mention cosines
I might ask you for a pen
when looking for a difference 
it’s perception I employ
I’m not sure that it makes sense
“to find the difference…take away”
I cannot comprehend the math of
a, b, c, d, y and x
to me their value is in words
they’re building blocks of text
math and numbers rattle me,
a wordsmith to the core,
counting syllables at best I’ll do
equations I abhor 
oh I can do the basics 
add, subtract, and multiply 
but I’m a writer not a math wiz
you ask what…and I ask why

~kat

I’m definitely not into math. I’m forced to use it in my job, creating formulas in excel, doing balance sheets. It stresses me. After a day with my nose in numbers, I’m exhausted. But my job isn’t all numbers. I plan international travel itineraries, manage a series of monthly newsletters, write tutorials and SOPs (standard operating procedures), transcribe meeting notes and actions, manage calendars and schedule meetings. My day job involves only a small fraction of math…until recently. Now we’re drowning in tariff mitigations. It’s a self inflicted (by Donald T) catastrophe that has my team scrambling. “Just the numbers,” my boss tells us. “I need numbers.” **Sigh**

I don’t need numbers. I need words. I need affirmations to get me through the latest chaotic whims of this terrible administration.   I need glimmers…every. single. day. I noticed this scene on my nightly walk this evening. Right on time. A glimmer, stirring lovely memories of  my beloved rescue pup, Theo. This was his favorite spot in our yard. He loved those pink flamingos placed under our huge white oak tree. We’ve been waiting for the ground to thaw and soften to receive Theo’s ashes. Even in the bitter there is sweetness. 

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you. 

~kat

NaGloPoWriMo 3 April 2025 prompt: write a poem that obliquely explains why you are a poet and not some other kind of artist – or, if you think of yourself as more of a musician or painter (or school bus driver or scuba diver or expert on medieval Maltese banking) – explain why you are that and not something else!