They say opposites attract,
And other BS,
As if a road trip between Math and me
Had the slightest chance of success.
I knew this from the start,
But nevertheless,
It became just she and me,
And our hopes for the best.
I thought was I set for the school subject convention--
Bags were all packed, and I held no apprehension.
What I’d had planned was a nice, scenic drive
To watch cornstalks wave and wildlife thrive.
It was to be peaceful and happy and chill--
Not awkward and gawky and lacking of thrill.
Alas, I failed to correctly calculate
The gas money I’d need,
and my current financial state.
But Math missed her plane and was stranded as well
So we’re travelling together, hoping all will be swell.
It’s not that I hate Math, per se,
She just always has to have her way.
My words are pointless, no matter what I say:
“Math is smarter than Poetry,” or so says the cliche.
The first hour and a half passed in slow, tantalizing silence.
Then came the snippy banter, and comebacks of defiance.
It wasn’t until Math’s car rolled to a stop--
The front left tire letting out a loud POP!--
That Math and I were forced to form an alliance.
As I sat wondering how to fix a flat tire,
Math used knowledge of air pressure and angles
To fix the situation which had become dire.
I can admit to being impressed;
previously I’d thought math skills were useless.
I guess one might say it was a bonding experience
And we began to talk about things of widening variance:
From why I like poems and the words that I choose,
To how much fun we’d have on a Jamaican cruise.
I guess I was overtaken by the vibrant conversation...
My heart only raced ‘cause we described a fun vacation.
At least... that’s what I kept telling myself
As I memorized our convos to preserve their wealth.
It was five hours in
when we saw an incredible building.
when we saw an incredible building.
We agreed the architect was a genius,
Because how else could it be so thrilling?
One elegant side jutted out to the west
While arches along the perimeter were tasteful no less.
A mix of limestone and glass gleamed under the sun
And only by Math was my fascination outdone.
While I saw the beauty in the building’s asymmetry,
Math was impressed by the subtle geometry.
She squealed about the arches and line segments she spotted
As I smiled and gazed upon her, blindly besotted.
The trip carried on, as comfortable as could be--
Math and I discovered the value
in our separate personalities.
Conversation flowed effortlessly as the trip approached an end,
And I knew at that moment that I’d gained a lifelong friend.
---
Check Regular Poetry (a second hour blog) sometime soon for Math's perspective and a bit more insight on the adventure :)
