Maria Wislawa Anna Szymborska (1923-2012) is a well known Polish poet, who won Nobel prize for Literature in 1996. Szymborska's poetry is often noted for its wit, irony, and deceptive simplicity. She has authored more than fifteen books of poetry. The Poem "Pi" is taken from her "Map: Collected and Last poems" (2015), ' Pi' (π) is the Latin name of the sixteenth Greek letter 'Π', that is used as a mathematical symbol. It is approximately Calculated as 3.141. It is considered as the ratio of circumference of a circle to its diameter. "'Pi' day" is also celebrated on 14th day of March from 1988, on the basis of its value 3.141.
Szymborska in her poem
'Pi, takes the readers on a Journey through the history and wonders of 'Pi' and
demonstrates, its versatility and importance in human culture. Szymborska's
'Pi' is divided into three Stanzas. The poet celebrates the beauty and
complexity of 'Pi' in the first Stanza. The admirable number 'Pi' (3.141) three,
point, one, four, one doesn't end, it has its following digits that never end.
The digits continue with five, nine, two, six, five, three, five, eight and so
on. In the second Stanza the longest snake on earth that ends at thirty feet is
compared with the Caravan of digits of 'Pi'. The digits of 'Pi' run off the
table, jump over the wall and leap into the air. Here the poet excellently
portrays the Practical application of 'Pi', in everyday life of us, especially in
architecture, music, and art apart from the calculation of the circumference of
circles and volumes of sphere.
Szymborska has a
philosophical approach through reminiscing on the unknowable nature of the 'Pi'
in the third stanza. She compares even the Comets tail with 'Pi'. Actually,
that's nothing but a 'mouse-like' one to 'Pi', on its comparing with 'Pi'. So, She says, even, "Heaven and Earth shall
pass away, but not 'Pi'. The 'Pi' will be "Prodding and prodding a plodding
eternity to the last". Thus the poem 'Pi' with its deceptively simple
subject matter explores the infinite possibilities of the mathematical constant
'Pi'. It makes us think how 'Pi' has been throughout history to solve Complex
mathematical problems and also help us realize our place in the Cosmos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuWbTwHYmX8
------Thulasidharan V
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