Amounting to Something

From the Fall/Winter 2013 issue of Poet Lore, a poem by David Wagoner about the arithmetic of expectations:

     Amounting to Something     by David Wagoner

     You were supposed to do that
     by saving yourself up
               like coins in a pig rescued
               just in time sometimes
     from in front of the candy counter  
     or the desk in the corridor

Related rates -- in fiction and poetry

     During the Memorial Day weekend I had the opportunity to read Black Rice (WSI, 2013), a novella by Burmese-American poet, artist, activist -- and friend -- Kyi May Kaung; I strongly recommend this book to you.  (My 5-star review of Kaung's book is available here at amazon.com -- follow the link and scroll down.)
     Here, in this blog, we mention topics if and only if they relate to both mathematics and poetry.  Read on and you will see!
     Midway through Black Rice, the narrator (speaking of an overflowing stream) reveals a negative attitude toward mathematics -- a strategy often used to provoke readers to experience empathy:  "Ahhh, just like me."  Here are the Burmese soldier's words: