A Forgetful Number - A poem by Vasko Popa

Vasko Popa - A Forgetful Number

Once upon a time there was a number
Pure and round like the sun
But alone very much alone

It began to reckon with itself

It divided multiplied itself
It subtracted added itself
And remained always alone

It stopped reckoning with itself
And shut itself up in its round
And sunny purity

Outside were left the fiery
Traces of its reckoning

They began to chase each other through the dark
To divide when they should have multiplied themselves
To subtract when they should have added themselves

That's what happens in the dark

And there was no one to ask it
To stop the traces
And to rub them out.

Added: on February 2nd, 2006 at 9:27 AM | Viewed: 2349 times | Comments (11)

A Forgetful Number - Comments and Information
Poet: Vasko Popa Poem: A Forgetful Number Volume: Secondary Heaven (Collected Poems), "Yawn of Yawns" Year: Published/Written in 1968 Comment 11 of 11, added on March 26th, 2006 at 7:19 AM. rather than tryin to find and search for interpretations, i think you should all just look at the poem and dance out what you read. as the examiner is not going to know what your doing if your dancing out roman numerals or the breaking borders of serbia. i am doing the poem also, and as reasearch into it is scarce. so good luck!! p.s 'i wish i had a nose :(' fiona from United Kingdom Comment 10 of 11, added on February 21st, 2006 at 5:57 AM. I think people may have ben missing the point here, the poem is about a number, 0. If you look at the way this figure has revolutionised arithmatic and do some research you'll see how important it is. Without 0 we would have to remember a name for each individual number because we would not have 10, 20, 30...etc. Without this numbering system we would be trying to do very complicated maths using roman numerals which is far more challenging. We would consequently not be able to advance in physics, mechanics, architechture and many other things which are the staple to our modern society and technology. Without 0 we cannot even do 2x5 because without a 0 the answer we get is 1, and if all mats turned out like this our buildings and bridges would collapse! 0 tells use exactly how many 10's are in a number and allow us to imediatly recognise its size. I didnt realise just how important it is untill i did my research. Popa may not have literally been talking about a number, but maybe a political figure who left serbia to collapse without them. I always think that maybe its best to take the questions at face value bacause all the exam board wants is for you to convey the poem through movement. I always find it useful to think of it as translating it into a different language, but using movement as your vocabulary. you may think thats all a load of rubbish but it helps me! time to get in the studio! kirstin from United Kingdom Comment 9 of 11, added on February 2nd, 2006 at 9:27 AM. I am also doing Dance and I have found for A Forgetful Number that Vasko Popa is from Serbia. The borders of the state kept changing ie the "subtracting and adding" (taking away borders and then adding them) He was in the army. It could be his personal view from being in the army. When in the Army work together but end up alone. I hope this helps but like all da questions it is hard to interoperate what da examinrs want. Sarah from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, A Forgetful Number, has received 11 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Vasko Popa with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
A Forgetful Number Volume: Secondary Heaven (Collected Poems), "Yawn of Yawns" Year: Published/Written in 1968 Last read: 2009-11-06 04:30:24 Viewed 2349 times. Added on February 2nd, 2006 at 9:27 AM.

Popa Info
Biography More Poems (32 poems) Books