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Reciprocal Liking

Katie Frances Hartless
,
Christine Rösch

Never could draw a straight line
or find pattern in design.
Thought all proportion
a percentile fluke,
life’s circumference
got me spooked.
When others zagged,
I squirmed and juked,
but when our opposite
auras combined,
all of life’s irregular shapes
aligned–
soul symmetry defined.

© khartless 2021, All Rights Reserved

Written to prompt at dVerse Poets Quadrille #131: 44 words including the word ‘juke’,

Hannah Fry author of The Mathematics of Love: Patterns, Proofs, and the Search for the Ultimate Equation shares the odds of finding your soul mate and compares how game theory reveals the best strategy for picking up a stranger in a bar. Fry even shares an equation that explains the conversation patterns of lasting relationships. She attempts to decode the complex dynamics of romance and expose the breathtaking beauty of math itself.

65 responses to “Reciprocal Liking”

  1. Lucy Avatar
    Lucy

    Beautiful and heartfelt.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Lucy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. larry trasciatti Avatar
    larry trasciatti

    It’s so good to see such a very happy couple

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but isn’t it always.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. brian miller Avatar
    brian miller

    Ok, as a math teacher I found your bio fascinating…ha.

    Your verse made me smile. When nothing else makes sense, when you find the one it all seems to fall right into place.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Brian. Kiddos to you for teaching math. I have my first draft of Fascination done. Feels amazing!

      Like

      Reply
  4. John Avatar
    John

    Lovely! I thought you were writing about the Like button on WP blogs… 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Ah, yes, I should have. Thanks, John. The countable popularity contest of the WP world. It’s the quality of the likes that matter, right?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. John Avatar
        John

        Popularity Contest, perfect! A like is a like any way you slice it…

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Beverly Crawford Avatar
    Beverly Crawford

    So glad everything aligned and symmetry prevailed!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Beverly. I am a lucky girl.

      Like

      Reply
  6. Ron. Avatar
    Ron.

    Cool use of the juke, K; very effective verse. I shared it with My Beloved Sandra & she loved it, too. Kudos!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Ron. So glad your partner liked it, oh, and you as well.

      Like

      Reply
  7. eob2 Avatar
    eob2

    There’s no faking it in math. 💙

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      So true. Ty.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. eob2 Avatar
        eob2

        You’re welcome.

        Like

  8. Sherry Marr Avatar
    Sherry Marr

    Soul symmetry sounds ideal. Hard to find with humans.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Sherry. Agreed.

      Like

      Reply
  9. Arcadia Maria Avatar
    Arcadia Maria

    I like your usage of “juke” in this poem. Nicely done quadrille.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you kindly, Maria.

      Like

      Reply
  10. abigfatcanofworms Avatar
    abigfatcanofworms

    Stunning! Rhyming, 44 words, imagery like cartwheels and that crazy word juke, fitting right in. Love it. And love the meaning too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you very much, worms.

      Like

      Reply
  11. rothpoetry Avatar
    rothpoetry

    Very nicely done!! Love what you did with the prompt!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Dwight. I missed all the Dversians and their great poetry.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. rothpoetry Avatar
        rothpoetry

        Yes, I did too! Glad we are back on track!

        Like

  12. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    “soul symmetry” what a great term. Hannah’s book sounds intriguing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Lisa. I have the book ready to read. Maybe this quadrille was a sign that it’s time.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        You’re very welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Ingrid Avatar
    Ingrid

    What a fascinating idea: decoding the mathematics of love. I don’t think it will ever be a simple formula! Nicely done 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      I was also intrigued to see what a math minded person could make of this mysterious force. Will be sure to report back.

      Like

      Reply
  14. Hobbo Avatar
    Hobbo

    Beautiful. I suspect that you could find patterns in a puddle!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Hobbo. Will do next time it rains.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Misky Avatar
    Misky

    Perfect response to the prompt. That aside, the concept of patterns, and maths vs blind luck has always fascinated me. Such odd and random pieces that make my life seem beyond happenstance.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Misky. I’ve also fallen in the feeling side of things but wondered if there wasn’t a grand design somewhere I was missing. One of life’s great mysteries.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Misky Avatar
        Misky

        Gosh, K … “a grand design somewhere I was missing” … I hope you don’t mind my saying, but I think that’s really sad.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. K.Hartless Avatar
        K.Hartless

        Not at all. Truth is, I enjoy eve just the fragments this life’s flashlight sees, as I have faith that the larger picture is there.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Misky Avatar
        Misky

        I feel much happier now, knowing that.

        Like

  16. merrildsmith Avatar
    merrildsmith

    Fascinating poem–and also the book. I love “soul symmetry.”
    My husband is math teacher, and I am totally not. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Merril. Yes, I’m often attracted to mathematically minded people because I live in the world of verbosity.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. merrildsmith Avatar
        merrildsmith

        My husband is stuck helping all the math-challenged. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Phillip Knight Scott Avatar
    Phillip Knight Scott

    That final line is so great. Good stuff!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Phillip. 😃

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. claudia Avatar
    claudia

    life’s irregular shapes is my fav part in this… and nice when they match in the end

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Claudia. It’s great when things can work out better than imagined.

      Like

      Reply
  19. Helen Dehner Avatar
    Helen Dehner

    Art and poem mesh beautifully.. I enjoyed your quadrille!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Helen. Appreciate your kind words.

      Like

      Reply
  20. sanaarizvi Avatar
    sanaarizvi

    This is such a deeply poignant write! Love this 💝💝

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you. Enjoyed crafting it. Glad to be able to share with the d’Versers. I’ve missed you all.

      Like

      Reply
  21. Mish Avatar
    Mish

    Oh I love the idea of “soul symmetry”. I think some alignments will always remain a mystery.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Mish. Agreed, still eager to read the book.

      Like

      Reply
  22. Photography314 Avatar
    Photography314

    Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, L.

      Like

      Reply
  23. writingwhatnots Avatar
    writingwhatnots

    Love this, and the artwork too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you. Yes, the artwork is stunning. (maybe even out sparkles) but I couldn’t resist.

      Like

      Reply
  24. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Very goo. I enjoyed this

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you kindly, Bill.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Bill Avatar
        Bill

        LOL… good, with a “d.” 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  25. ben Alexander Avatar
    ben Alexander

    This is so incredibly sweet. I am happy for you 😊

    💞
    David

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Ben. I do feel lucky. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. ben Alexander Avatar
        ben Alexander

        You’re so welcome 🙂

        BTW, please feel free to call me by my first name, which is David.

        Yours ❤
        David

        Like

      2. K.Hartless Avatar
        K.Hartless

        David, sorry, I knew that. Glanced at your name, and then, yeah, not thinking. My apologies. K.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. ben Alexander Avatar
        ben Alexander

        ❤

        Like

  26. areadingwriter Avatar
    areadingwriter

    your analogies work so well. my heart melted, K.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you very much. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  27. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    I definitely believe symmetry is involved somewhere… maybe that’s why it often just works

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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Author

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Katie Frances Hartless

K.F. Hartless (she/her) is a free-spirited fiction writer and word trapeze artist. When she’s not juggling her career as a literacy specialist, she’s preparing her latest death-defying act on the keys.

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