Who, This Little Mathematician, That Governed

A captive isle of firmament blue

Deep geometric farms green and true

Brushwood calloused old Letizia’s hands

Hands to nurture eternal name

Constellations watching through supple flame

Encroachment shattered crossed rolling sea

Sea subjective and self-aware

Imagination within, one child’s stare

With brother Joseph to Autun steps

Steps of soldier and that of priest

None the greater, none the least

Lessons taught of man and God

God loved one and feared the other

Numbers proved masses to smother

Who, this little mathematician that governed?

Whetstone Poetry: Thanking Richard L., for showing me the form.

Comments: 25

Kushal Poddar May 12, 2012, 9:27pm UTC

Steps of soldier and that of priest

None the greater, none the least,

Brother, I often see you as a paradox of light and darkness. Amazing poetry

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 12:17pm UTC

Napolean became the soldire, his brother Joseph became a priest. Of their youngest brother Lucien, I have no knowledge of what he became. Perhaps a poet?

M. Bradley McCauley May 13, 2012, 2:31pm UTC

He became discouraged about what was happening in France after his brother's success and initially lived in Rome, he moved to America, before returning to Italy after Napoleon's fall.

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 3:14pm UTC

Ku,

Richard, Susan & I are discussing a name for this form (see below). Maybe you have a comment or suggestion? I was thinking "Wordbridge" for the base form (see Richard's Cobweb Whispers).

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 3:15pm UTC

Amd Kudos to Ms. McCauley for the history lesson. Thanks.

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Len Maxwell May 12, 2012, 9:56pm UTC

I wish I could respond in poetry but I think you know that's beyond me. I'll settle for saying that this was a very enjoyable read.

Thanks for posting to the Wall of Mathematics on The Triple Name Club where it's now featured.

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Richard Lynn Livesay May 12, 2012, 10:07pm UTC

"Steps of soldier and that of priest
None the greater, none the least"....I like this rhyme best..i see Ku does too'
good flow with a mysterious base...who is the mathematician?...WTG, Robert

Richard Lynn Livesay May 12, 2012, 10:30pm UTC

accepted and Featured on Surreal Circus

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 12:14pm UTC

The 'Little Mathematician" got that name from his first teachers, nuns actually, in response to discovering he had a genius for numbers. This occurred while he was still in Corsica. At the time, the young Napolean had little idea what a mathematician was. Ironically, the part of the epithet that survived was the word 'Little', not the word 'Mathematician', as in "The Little General"!

:+)

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 12:21pm UTC

And Letizia was his mother. His father was Charles.

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Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 13, 2012, 12:10am UTC

The form is curious and I saw its resemblance to Richard's poem immediately, even before reading your nod to Mr. Livesay.

What's the name of the form, though?

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 12:15pm UTC

Richard is just above you dear lady, as is the name of the mystery honoree. You'll have to ask Richard the name of the form.

Richard Lynn Livesay May 13, 2012, 2:20pm UTC

it just seemed like something fun to try, continuing the last word of the stanza with the first of the next and also use a semi teraza rima form w/o rhyming the middle verses....call it a Richard/Susan or whatever

Richard Lynn Livesay May 13, 2012, 2:44pm UTC

see my poem, "Cobweb Whispers"... Open to a name for it.

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 3:00pm UTC

"Cobweb Whispers" is where I picked it up, then added the rhyme (partial) and mystery (whole). Thought you it was an existing form you found and not a new invention. Let's do this: How about you (w Susan's help maybe) name the original form and then I'll abridge it with the word "mystery" for use when the poet conceals his subject. For instance: "Wordbridge" and then "Wordbridge Mystery". Let me know when you name it...

Robert - just a simple man - B. May 13, 2012, 3:05pm UTC

BTW, After reading yours twice more, I like "Wordbridge"

Your & Susan's thoughts?

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 15, 2012, 1:17am UTC

This whole conversation passes through my mind regularly. I am sooo swamped, poet-brothers. I've got a deadline on paid-work, deadline on a grant, deadline on an interview. Oh, and a workshop to teach at a new venue--a University--yikes. I've never taught there before and am not prepped.

Therefore, I can't think about this, too. Well, I can, but then I'm not thinking about something I should be thinking about.

So I'll toss this out. I like Wordbridge in a sense. I think something more eloquent might be considered, though. Maybe think of the poetic techniques used in this form and create a word from that.

Hugs to you both!

william d. May 15, 2012, 12:13pm UTC

It takes a bit of a search to find a name for a poetry form that is not taken. Punch in ("wordbridge" poetry) ans start searching. I hunted up a name for my poetry form in 2011 (Susan helped)...it was a tough hunt.

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