1/2 And 1/2 Nots Poem by Savita Tyagi
1/2 And 1/2 Nots
Reading my poem 'Nobody and Somebody'
Bri suggested that I write about 1/2 and 1/2 nots
Of course he probably was kidding!
But it inspired me to twist the numeric a bit.
It has been the dream of mankind to
Close the gap between the 1/2 and 1/2 nots
To create a homogeneous society.
Sadly this wholesome dream floats in a world of fake
Having no real consequence at stake.
Some say this world is also an illusion
But not like that inner world of absurd cohesion.
In dream world the 1/2 nots may be sitting in a palace,
But here I find them sitting on footpaths
Waging a bitter battle of want and agony,
Aghast by onlooker's disdain and fate's irony.
Many would consider them a burden.
Some would sympathize to shed some tears
But not enough to share their precious 1/2s.
Very few would think of making the human life
Whole by sharing their 'haves' with 'have nots'.
Two negatives do create a positive in math.
But in real world 1/2 nots may aspire to have
An enchanting dream of wholeness with their counter half
Or they just might cancel each other out
To create an awful life of zero balance.
And this I write without having
Much of a math knowledge!
(cont.) Strangely (to me) , my wife says she watched an elderly woman, in a CA downtown. retrieving recyclable containers from a trash bin and gave her a 50 dollar bill because my wife had no smaller bills with her.
[[ PH will erase a comment and you will lose it if you haven't copied it before sending, IF you use a dollar SIGN instead of the word 'dollar'. PH does not give any warning! ! bri : ( (cont.)
In this marriage my wife is apt to have some 50 and 100 dollar bills on hand, while I RARELY do. She has discouraged my tendency to be financially charitable, through the mail or on a sidewalk. (cont.)
In this marriage my wife has discouraged/mildly protested my tendency to share a little money with individuals and organizations. (cont.)
Savita, Perhaps I've arrived at Zero Balance? But, actually, I've always HAD quite enough, thank you very much. I've never been rich nor poor nor close to either for myself.
Thank you Bri for all your comments. May be the gap between 'have and have nots' would always be an unfulfilled dream. Life has a tendency to create its own zero balance for us. All we can remember is what we did for others and for ourselves. Just like what your wife did.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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7/18/2025 10:53:55 PM # 1.0.0
Many read what you write, They just all don't leave a comment. If I had to survive by comments, I'd have starved, a long time ago.. iip Just keep on keeping on 👣👣
Thanks Is it poetry. Forget the comments I am just trying to survive the writing. It doesn't come easy when memory starts to slip. Thanks for the assurance that many read what I write. So thankful to all my readers.
I think the above is the best writing I've read from my friend James Mclain. ;) 'at a boy, James. bri ;)
James, formerly 'Is It Poetry' on PH, has, it seems, had a serious life/mind change in the last few years, making his poetry and use of English 'much better'. Maybe now he earns tons of money with his poetry? ? ;)) bri