SIXTEEN

[Jeff Thorpe]

SIXTEEN

“Sixteen” doesn’t mean a lot, square root of 256,
so what, most would answer, not a box of tricks,
breakdown though, tells much about the figure
so now, let us analyse “Sixteen” with some vigour.

It takes its place in history, both longstanding and new,
think Louis XVI of France and his grisly adieu,
Pope Benedict XVI, another case to ponder.
hardly guillotined but, willingly placed out yonder.

Anyone of my vintage would remember well,
that sixteen ounces made a pound before Imperial fell,
plus, “Load sixteen tons and what do you get,
another day older and deeper in debt”.

Our recommended sleep time is eight hours per day,
leaving sixteen hours with which to work and play,
photographers are conversant with film of sixteen millimetre,
while the M16 rifle can shoot single or repeater.

Sixteen black and sixteen white pieces play in chess,
eight pawns for each player, total sixteen to address.
To musicians a semiquaver’s one sixteenth of a note
and on the Isle of Man at sixteen one can vote.

Credit cards have sixteen digits on their faces
while British driver Stirling Moss won sixteen Grand Prix races,
Jeune won the Melbourne Cup at sixteen to one,
barrier sixteen saw Jezabeel second to none.

“Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” saw Neil Sedaka rise to fame,
though UK choir “Sixteen’s” religious music’s not the same,
Sixteen in many lands is age of sexual consent,
and entitlement to drink at that age also’s got assent.

Thus, innocuous sixteen’s not as bland as it may seem,
though not a “prime” number, it’s worthy of esteem,
maybe it is “sweet and never been kissed”
but elements of sixteen can scarcely be dismissed.


Jeff Thorpe 30 June 2013 ©

[David Campbell]

A clever poem about a number, Jeff. Warms the cockles of an old mathematician's heart, that does!

Cheers
David

[Heather]

I love the imaginative take on 16 Jeff. Very clever.

Heather

[Shelley Hansen]

Great subject Jeff! I'm not a mathematician like David, but I just love "stats" and trivia, so I found it fascinating. Now you've got me thinking about the potential of "number" poems - that could be a good homework challenge for Maureen to set for us!!

"Sweet sixteen and never been kissed" surely had its ultimate fulfillment in poor old Sleeping Beauty - at 16 she pricked her finger instead and had to wait until she was 116 before her prince's lips woke her up!!!

Cheers
Shelley

[Jeff Thorpe]

Thanks David, Heather and Shelley.
The topic "Sixteen" was a homework task by my Writer's Group back in 2013.
It was quite engrossing in the research.

Regards, Jeff

[Maureen K Clifford]

Oh No! Maths was never my strong suit - I failed dismally. However if someone else has some ideas re prompts for this please submit them - I would be happy to use them.

I am in awe of the cleverness of this poem - well done Jeff

[alongtimegone]

Phew Jeff a lot of work went into that one I reckon. Excellent! The number 16 will never be the same for me again. I'm glad you didn't forget a teenager's special kiss, I was waiting for it and the reference to the songs especially sixteen tons ... brilliant.
Wazza

[Catherine Lee]

Brilliant Jeff - so innovative and clever. Numbers are definitely not my thing but I can really appreciate the time and thought that went into this one!

[Jeff Thorpe]

Thank you Maureen, Waz & Catherine. Amazing what help one can get from Google.

Regards, Jeff