What’s the relation
Of your explanation?
It’s off the subject we’re on!

Alphabet soup,
And Greek loop-the-loop,
Alpha, phi, beta? – Come on!

With little persuasion
You form an equation:
x + y = z.

“What happened to numbers,”
Will mumble the stumblers.
“What happened to 1, 2, and 3?”

Yet numbers are few
For one such as you:
A master of hieroglyphics.

A genius needs not
What others need taught
To hell with a few good specifics.

Yet you say not to worry,
Take my time and not hurry.
Relax! Be calm! Take a rest!

Though perhaps you are right,
What then for tonight?
Tomorrow’s the day of the test!
– 1976, Austin