Throwback Arithmetic

Throwback ArithmeticThe poem below was written by yours truly for the child of a friend back in 2006. I found a copy lying around in my hard drive. I left that office to work abroad later the same year, but the piece endured in my computer’s magical memory.

The instruction for the kid’s Math project was to write a five-stanza poem on scientific notation, place value, arithmetic mean and order of operation.

Herculean, but never impossible. Go me, I say!

Math is the Word

Simplification is the word
As scientific notations are used to denote
Those large and small sums
Too many zeroes are reduced
To exponential expressions
Making, for all, easier computations

Uniformity is the word
As place value notations are used to denote
Amounts related to the base
    Or radix, if you will
Symbols are used to identify positions
Each of their values
Multiplied by the power of the base

Averaging is the word
As arithmetic means are used to denote
The quotient of all given values
All amounts are added then divided
    Depending how many addends there are
The result of dividend over divisor
Commonly, “Average” is the name we call it

Universality is the word
As precedence rules are used
For the order in which operations in expressions are evaluated
These notational conventions apply
To many programming languages and calculators
As we keep moving toward technological modernization

These are not mere numerical theories
But are practical ways and means of organizing figures
Giving a semblance of order to the complexity
Of numbers and calculations and results
That define aspects of the world we live in
For all these, Math is the word

No Apologies

No ApologiesI have been working as a freelance author and copywriter since I was, literally, a kid. As a professional in this field, I always keep careful tabs on my published and unpublished works. That is why I have an online portfolio, hard copies of my articles where available, and, naturally, a running list of work to my credit.

It came as a great surprise when, while cleaning up and archiving old files off my laptop’s hard drive, I found 22 pages of unpublished poetry. Yes, folks, nearly two dozen poems just waiting to be part of a collection, over and above the ones already compiled.

Now, I can recall very clearly that I actually wrote them way, way back in 2002 at someone’s request, to be the chapter bookends of his autobiography. The manuscript was being edited then and I was given a copy to read and write “hard-hitting” poetry for.

However, the autobiography project was never realized as the author got distracted by other priorities. In 2003, my working relationship ended with him and off I went to serve in other sectors.

I got to keep all my poems, though, which was fantastic.

A teaser-sample is definitely in order:

I journey on, dauntless
Not heeding
The threats and taunts
Never succumbing to weakness.

This is my destiny
The unyielding road
I traverse with no apologies
Now, then and evermore.

Pen Crafting

Pen CraftingA very warm welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Pencrafty, Shirley Siaton-Parabia‘s blog on writing, where she intends to post ideas, inspiration and tips to keep herself and her fellow writers up to the never-ending challenge of churning words.

I have long since wanted a blog where I can post and archive my articles and resources on writing and, finally, I officially launched the website on 8th July 2017. The domain name was purchased 28th July last year. However, it was only during the summer months of 2017 that I was able to set aside some time to go back to writing, building websites and blogging, following my first year of motherhood.

I blog about personal stuff at Shi Bytes. The rest of my websites are listed at The Honor and Blood Network.

Pencrafty is also available on your favorite social media channels and sharing networks. We have Pinterest Boards and a Tumblelog. You can also follow us on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter.