A Clockwork by Numbers

I am not very good with numbers, and that's putting it lightly. But with them resides the secret of the universe and possibly the working of love.

A Clockwork by Numbers 

(In love)

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

Science has debated 

Since beginning of time

While philosophers ponder

Its meaning in ryhme 

For time is relative

To those who equate

It flows numerically 

As men contemplate

Admittedly, I'm lacking 

Einstein's genius resolve 

Defining expansive universe 

Within equation he solved 

Throughout vast numbers 

And beyond decimal dot

Enigmas are revealed 

In mathematics we're taught 

The weight of an atom

Is granular and pure

Our cosmos are endless 

Mind-numbing they stir

Despite our intentions 

We fail to see

The principles of love

Lack discovery 

No number can  quantify

The yearning of heart

Lost is all sense

As emotions fall apart

But one can find 

solace in two

For prime is a number

Equal to you

  

Author's Note

Recently got into a minor disagreement with my muse. She insulted my intelligence (rightly so) by saying "You are no Einstein, fool." And my retort was just as cruel as I said "You are no Shakespeare!". In which she replied with burning wit, "Speak for yourself, idiot. " I had to admit that hurt. But I am still alive so maybe....yeah right keep dreaming. Feel free to comment or leave thoughts.

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

This is so creative Carlos. I don't know how you come up with them. Don't feel bad about math, physics and such; we all struggle with them. Reading your caption made me smile for we always insult someone by comparison. You forgot(Elvis). Just kidding.
Enjoy your holidays sir and a job always well done.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Sami for taking the time to read and comment on this poem. It was inspired by reading a bank statement of mine and almost passing out because of how my mind feels about numbers. Sometimes I get nose bleeds when I have to calculate. That is how much I hate numbers. Thank you again my friend.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I feel you. You are welcome muchly.

[Gee]

Very clever Carlos, read it at speed the 2nd time and it just trips off the tongue.
Merry Christmas To ya :))

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Gee. Thank you for your sweet comment. I so appreciate it.

[Neville]

Full marks sir .. please note, I have deliberately avoided the use of any numerals to avoid any confusion whatsoever ................................................... N:)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Neville for the kind comment as always my friend. There is nothing that causes more distress and mental exhaustion in me than having to calculate numbers. I do have an admiration for those who love mathematics, unfortunately I'm not one of them. Words are more my bag.

[Neville]

............................... me too :)

[M. J. Smith]

I'm no whiz kid. But I get rhyme. Straight and to the point without being a cheap one liner. Reads like an actual poem. Accessible. This is what poetry should be.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Lately I had been submitting such serious pieces of poetry and needed something a bit light to balance myself as a writer. There is no greater outlet to a heavy mind than love. Thank you so much again for your words.

[M. J. Smith]

It will be a dad day when love is reduced to math equation or chemical formula. And your most welcome. Amid all these "instapoets" today I wonder if true poetry, the kind our ancestors wrote and performed, isn't a dying art. Have a blessed day, my friend.

[Lydia Shutter]

I love those last two lines! "For prime is a number Equal to you!" No need to be Alan Turing or Albert Einstein to be a poet whose words are enjoyable to read. This poem flows so well. I liked it. Lydi**

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Lydi for the kind comment. Just as there is a science to numbers so to the same applies to words. They both can unlock deeper mysteries and leave a heart in awe of their art. Thank you so much again.

[Relic]

Women can inspire men in the weirdest - and sometimes cruelest - of ways. :)
I feel like taking out a math book now that I've read this but is upstairs and I don't feel ike getting up. ha

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Every time I look a bank statement I feel exactly the way you just described my friend. Thank you Relic for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem.

[JE Falcon]

"For prime is a number --- Equal to you" ----- You have proved it! And they say that I'm not in my prime any longer. Huh, A lot they knew. ------ None the less, poems such as yours provides hope that we have not all gone by way of the deadly serious. And this poem proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt that, whit is kept on the earth by the aid of quantum gravity. Yes, and humor is held in place by a string of theories. Thanks for the fun read, and the enlightenment. :)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you JE for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem. I am in total agreement with you my friend. Mathematics and science doesn't always have to be so serious. Nor will it always have all the answers. Life is an anomaly. Billions of years in the making and evolution. All this for us to laugh, learn, and love. Thank you again my friend.

[Vertigo Cat1111]

I loved the uniqueness of this poem, how it blended real things into real emotions! They rhymes are brilliant too, and the story you offered behind it added even more, maybe a tinge if melancholy. I’m also absolutely horrible with numbers, b hey! Maybe that’s why we’re writers in the first place. This poem is full of the usual charm with something new and it was such a fun read, true poetry. Thank you so much for sharing!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Colacat for your thoughts on this piece. In the mid 70's I was held back a grade because I was absolutely awful at math. I just didn't have the mind for it. Trying to decipher mathematics was like trying to understand Egyptian hieroglyphics. They eventually understood that because I did very well in reading comprehension and writing. At that time they were still trying to understand dyslexia. Even to this day I zone out when looking at numbers. In a way it does sadden me because it impacted my life so early on. People that I was slow or dumb and for that year I was placed in a classroom for special education. They eventually realized the error they made and moved me back up again. The educational system was broken back then and has improved but not enough unfortunately. Education can't be something controlled by the states. We must implement a standardized system federally. Every child deserves to have the same education in uniformity. We owe it to these kids to do better and give them an educational system comparable to our status in the world. We fail ourselves as a society when we allow one child to grow up ignorant and lacking in the tools to function in the world. No child should ever feel they are dumb because they have a learning disability. Not in this day and age. We have to re-imagine our way of education for this new technological age.

[Vertigo Cat1111]

Exactly, that's a perfect way to describe it. No kid should ever feel left out just because they're slower and such.

[Dave Brown]

She has successfully inspired a romamathmatical equation which highlights the occasion
A very enjoyable pre-X-mas present

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Dave my muse has been working overtime this holiday season that is for sure. Sometimes I question her intentions but then read her words and find myself questioning my own. I guess in the process of creating art it has that effect. That you again my friend for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Shelley Warner]

I always enjoy your author's note along with your poems. I like this about the vastness and mysteries of the universe and the relativity of time, along with a lesson reminding us to not lose sight of love.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Shelley for sharing your thoughts with me. In the vastness of this universe and our history as a species there is one undeniable trait that distinguishes us from other creatures. Our capacity to love and know love. At times it may be a mystery of how it works but we have no doubt about its emotion and impact in our lives. The universe is filed with great wonder but I would posit none greater than love itself.

[Shelley Warner]

Yes, well said. When I was married, I tried to analyze our love. Maybe because it was a difficult relationship. With the love I have for John, I don't have to understand it. It's there.