Twenty Four Addition Poem by Haiqing Hua

二十四加法
Twenty four addition

一天有二十四个小时
Twenty four hours a day
你可以发现一些东西
You can find something
一些很平常的东西
Something usual
通常我们不会留意
Normally we do not pay attention

后来我发现
But I found a little while after
二十四这个数字的特征
The specialty of the number twenty four
所以我想让你知道
So I want to let you know
其实这些发现可有用
Actually, those maybe very useful

我用加法来计算
I calculate it with addition
我发现
I discovered
这个数字可以分解为
This number can be decomposed
变成十一加上十三
And become eleven plus thirteen


这些都是奇数
Those are all odd numbers
一些不很吉祥的数字
Some numbers are considered sinister
最后晚餐的人数
The number of people in the last dinner
然后就是阿拉伯数字的11
And the Arabic number 11
如此孤单如此诡异
So much loneliness, let alone so much odd

我还用加法来计算
I calculate it with addition again
这个数字可以分解为
This number can be decomposed
变成八加上十六
And become eight plus sixteen

这些都是偶数
Those are even numbers
一些寓意吉祥的数字
Some numbers are considered auspicious
广东话八与发谐音
Eight sounds lucky in Cantonese
十六在中文里就是顺利的意思
Sixteen in Chinese means going well
如此和谐如此安静
So much harmonious, and calm in peace