Counting sheep — when you’re trying to sleep,
Being fair — when there’s something to share,
Being neat — when you’re folding a sheet,
That’s mathematics!
When a ball — bounces off of a wall,
When you cook — from a recipe book,
When you know — how much money you owe,
That’s mathematics!
How much gold can you hold in an elephant’s ear?
When it’s noon on the moon, then what time is it here?
If you could count for a year, would you get to infinity
Or somewhere in that vicinity?
When you choose — how much postage to use,
When you know — what’s the chance it will snow,
When you bet — and you end up in debt,
Oh, try as you may,
You just can’t get away
From mathematics!
Andrew Wiles gently smiles,
Does his thing, and voila!
Q.E.D., we agree,
And we all shout “hurrah!”
As he confirms what Fermat
Jotted down in that margin
Which could have used some enlargin’
Tap your feet — keeping time to the beat
Of a song — while you’re singing along,
Harmonize — with the rest of the guys,
Yes, try as you may,
You just can’t get away
From mathematics!
Mathematical Mysteries 