THE PARTY ACCORDING TO RAMSEY'S PRINCIPLE* Poem by Győző Ferencz

How many people should be
Invited to the Ramsey party
So that among the guests there should
Be three at least who know or else
Not know each other?
Assume six people are invited.
One of them, say John, will know
Or else not know at least, say, three
Of the five others. If he knows three
And out the three there are two
(Mary and Paul) who know each other
(Together with John) they form a quorum;
But if they do not know each other
(Only John) them, with the others,
They still constitute a quorum,
In so far as at least three
Don't know each other. And should four,
Say, know or else not know
Another person, eighteen guests
Are necessary. More than that
And only an approximate
Estimate is possible, but that
For now will make no difference.
The Ramsey Principle states clearly
That perfect disorder can't exist.
But how many parties must you have
And how many must I attend
Or not attend that I may know
Or not know you. Either I will
Know your guests or not know them.
I know who knows me and I know
Who doesn't, but could we two form
A quorum, just the two of us
While not knowing how John gets on
(With John) or Mary (with Mary) or Paul (with Paul)
Or you (with you) or I (with me)?
Could we, and if so, how many of us,
Be guests at a Ramsey party
While examining our reflection
So helplessly in the hall mirror?

Translated by George Gömöri and George Szirtes