Number

everywhere I go I'm just
     a number.
my juror number is
     7077,
and my social security number is
     047-66-6173.
some people are very curious
     about my numbers,
I was born on July 12, 1962,
     if that number means anything
     to anyone,
my driver's license number is
     194560474,
and I live on 119 Whittier Road,
     only I don't make too much
     money and I don't have a credit
     card or a six-figure salary,
and I'm not number one yet
     by any means,
but I'm curious to find out if anyone
     will call my number, that is
     397-1814,
and I still remember my zip code
     to be 06515,
and some people don't like to
     give out their numbers,
and some people's phone numbers
     are never listed in the book.
numbers, numbers, numbers.
what is your number, darling?
when will I ever see you?
god knows, you've got all my numbers
     and I feel so naked
          and I wish I were your favorite
 number like 3 or 7,
but I bet you like 5 and 8,
and I wish I could count the number of all the stars
in the sky,
but I know that would be impossible,
but I cannot bear the number of days that
I don't see you,
and looking outside my window,
     I can see two lovers kissing
          and embracing,
and I'm sure they don't think
     about numbers,
while I stand here by myself—
     a lonely uno,
my eyes filled with tears
and my head spinning, muddled
     and confused in the endless
 maze—
numbers, numbers, numbers,
there is no number to match
     your eyes, your lips, your nose
 and your sweet mouth, darling,
there is no number to your kiss,
no calculus can match your infinity—
you are countless in your oneness,
and as my hands meet your hands,
and as my eyes meet your eyes,
and as my lips meet your lips,
I add and subtract,
I multiply and divide,
I integrate and differentiate,
but I cannot come up with the right number,
the right number, the right number—
the number that is you...
since then I have stopped
counting and I search in vain
for your number in the phone book,
and all the addresses look the same to me,
but I still can remember your
date of birth, if it makes any
difference:
August 18, 1966.
 
 

                                       July 10, 1987
                                   --Alexander Shaumyan