Book Fair

ladyof80

This Math Problem

I do not have to know whether there's a God
I do not have to know whether there's a self.
But by George, I have to know
about these lines.

Which way should they aim?
Or should they spin?
Where must they go?
What must they do?

Things do not have to be symmetric.
But things have got to be transitive.
Lines have got
to get you there.

And things have got
to be reflexive.
Points have got
to get you here.

Marion Deutsche Cohen

Marion Deutsche Cohen is known, in particular, for her writings (poetry and memoir) on three topics: spousal chronic illness, late pregnancy loss, and math. She is the author of 35 books; her newest poetry collection is “A Lady of 80” (Alien Buddha Press), and her latest prose collection is “Not Erma Bombeck: Diary of a Feminist 70s Mother” (Alien Buddha Press). Forthcoming is “Reasons and Remedies for Insomnia” (dancing girl press).  She is also the author of two controversial memoirs about “well-spousery”, a trilogy diary of full-term-pregnancy loss, and “Crossing the Equal Sign”, about the experience of and her passion for math. She has taught a course she developed, Mathematics in Literature, at Arcadia University and at Drexel University’s Honors College. Other poetic inspirations are classical piano, singing, Scrabble, thrift-shopping, four grown children, two grown step-children, and six grands. Her website is  marioncohen.net .
A Lady of 80 is published by Alien Buddha Press, and is available from Amazon.

If you have any thoughts about this poem or this publication,  Marion Deutsche Cohen would be pleased to hear them

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