Saturday, August 6, 2011
Nolan’s Approach to Trigonometry
Trigonometry is the study of angles,
As Nolan knew very well.
He studied the thing dispassionately;
He knew what was wrong by the smell.
He eased the lid open slowly,
He gulped at the rotting within:
A manual on hang-gliding by Trubshaw
A piece on original sin,
A Modest Proposal by Alcott,
An invoice from Norris & Sons,
A recipe from one who was sorry
She’d burnt a congressman’s buns,
A novel by Julian Peters,
A critique by Paris Hilton
Of a curious verse, called The Sow’s Purse,
Wrongly ascribed to John Milton,
A guide for old folk to Bournemouth,
A postcard saying, “Ça va bien?”,
An introduction to Cartesian dualism
And the lyrics to Je Ne Regrette Rien.
Nolan wiped the tears from his eyes
And drew a fresh intake of breath:
Such order and method here, Hastings;
Surely the mathematics of death.
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