Numbereverywhere 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