A Forgetful Number by Vasko Popa
Once upon a time there was a number Pure and round like the sun But alone very much alone
It began to reckon with itself
It divided multiplied itself It subtracted added itself And remained always alone
It stopped reckoning with itself And shut itself up in its round And sunny purity
Outside were left the fiery Traces of its reckoning
They began to chase each other through the dark To divide when they should have multiplied themselves To subtract when they should have added themselves
That's what happens in the dark
And there was no one to ask it To stop the traces And to rub them out.
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