WRITING & REALITY: Morning Numbers; Mourning Numbers

I once believed that only words can hurt the soul and numbers were our friends that make some sense of life.

But three when spelled as three and not as 3 becomes as damaging, I think, where once I thought that it was lucky, and it’s not.

A family of five minus two is three, and that can be heartbreaking. Two couples minus one is three sad folk. Most of all I fear the old wives’ warnings on events, and wake up oft afraid to hear the ringing of the phone.

One male, one female hummingbird is proof enough of two without the seeing of their swooping side by side. But three this morning tells a different story, despite a half a century of learning, forgetting 50 years of watching, listening, knowing the contrary or exceptions to the rule.

Three or 3 or III, it doesn’t matter. Three is a quaking, shaking up of mind and soul.