Cheeky Mathematics

 

 

Cheeky Mathematics

He and she fuse their cells
with the sticky glue
of their warm juices

Two cells become one
which then divides
and multiplies
until one plus one
adds up to ten
perfect little toes

Baby trades warmth and safety
for the heady freedom
of the outside world
leaving behind
life before life

The years move on while
he and she and they
climb the steep path
of life during life
all the way to the top

When the sun sets
life after life takes over
making the cells dry up
until one minus one
crumbles into ten perfect
little mounds of dust

 

 


Maya Khankhoje prefers words to numbers.