Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NUMBERS, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NUMBERS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Numbers are the queerest things!
Last Line: Look at 5 and see him wink!
Subject(s): Children; Mathematics; Numbers; Childhood


NUMBERS are the queerest things!
Marching round and round in rings—
Some—like 1—so tall and straight,
Some all round and fat—like 8.

I like numbers, and I know
Every one, as far as twelves,
But the thing that puzzles me
Is the way they add theirselves!

One and one add up to two—
But I wonder why they do?
Why do 2 and 1 make 3
When they're different as can be?

Taking two away from four
(If you're mean enough) leaves two—
But if that two goes away
Then there's nothing left but you!

Numbers are the queerest things!
Marching round and round in rings—
Numbers are alive, I think,
Look at 5 and see him wink!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net