One always comes first
as in one hundred, one thousand,
one million, one billion.
One is followed by two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine –
all figures.
Yet there is also a cipher,
zero,
filling a space with nothing; lots of it.
Did I mention infinity?

I personally like symbols,
and calculations;
functions can be fascinating,
whether independent or dependent variables.

To be exact, maths is fun
until you solve the problem.
After that, “nothing can be added
to it and nothing taken from it”.

(the Bible proves correct.)

Find the invariable,
the finite and infinite number
which measures the distance between stars,
and travels in outer space,
the enigmatic cipher, the figure,
symbol among symbols – a function
mathematics cannot calculate.

©Elena Malec, California, August 4th, 1997