A Pi Poem
Love Song to an Uncertain Future
I’ve encountered that
point,
one
implied, inherent, even promised.
One
never sought. Not a gift.
The peaches I have dared lie eaten, sticky memories,
blue ribbons
molding in a muddy cardboard box.
What do I dare as
my next peach?
So little time to claim
between this morning’s aches and when I join
infinity.
The Definition of a Pi Poem
March 14 is Pi Day, so in honor of the occasion you can write a poem based on the digits in pi. Some people think the digits of pi are only 3.1415, but the numbers go on infinitely, without any pattern among the digits. While this may trouble mathematicians, we’re going to use it to our gain.
A Pi Poem is…
One form of a pi poem is called the cadae, which limits the poet to the first five digits of pi and ignores the other aspects of its value.
The definition for my type of pi poem is:
Each line of the poem must contain the number of words (or syllables — your choice but be consistent) that corresponds to that digit in pi. So the first line would have 3 words/syllables, the third line would have 1 word/syllable, then 4, then 1, then 5, and so on.
The second line of the poem should be the word point, or something synonymous, such as dot, spot, or tip. Whatever you choose, try to keep to the spirit of the poetic form.
Each succeeding line should contain the number of words/syllables corresponding to the digits of pi so far.
You may write as many or as few lines as you wish.
The final line should be infinity, or something synonymous, such as eternity or forever.
You don’t need to rhyme, but if you do, I’ll be very impressed.
The idea is to use the spirit of the number to control the form, but the words are all yours. Have fun with it!