This poem is a defiant mathematical dismantling of censorship. It contrasts the immense number of words in the dictionary and the millions of books published annually against the 6,870 books banned this year. The author acknowledges this small number of banned books is still “6870 more” than what should ever be allowed.
The underlying emotion is one of sheer refusal. The censors may try to restrict thinking and ban books. However, the final statement is a declaration of victory for the written word. It asserts that the dictionary remains accessible, offering all the language needed to resist.
- I hate math
- but for this one,
- I’m happy to report that
- “It is around
- zero point one seven one seven five percent
- of total books”.