Fan and medal! One question.
What does the author achieve by mixing exact and approximate numbers in "A Contribution to Statistics?"
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2011/04/04/wislawa-szymborska-a-contribution-to-statistics/

Question

Fan and medal! One question.
What does the author achieve by mixing exact and approximate numbers in "A Contribution to Statistics?"
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2011/04/04/wislawa-szymborska-a-contribution-to-statistics/

b.r · Answer

@osprey

osprey · Answer

@B.R 
those who always know better
— fifty-two

I'd say dark humour, based on my reaction when I found the first two lines of the poem.

osprey · Answer

worthy of compassion
— ninety-nine,

mortal
— a hundred out of a hundred.
Thus far this figure still remains unchanged.
The last four lines suggest old age in emotional terms and then in the numbers count. I also suggests that the author, though mortal, is still alive and a centurion ? 

It reminds me a little of Shakespeare's "This is the state of man: today he puts forth the tender leaves of hopes ... "
from King Henry VIII
'cept that it seems more humorous.

b.r · Answer

Yeah but I don't know if that helps. I'm honestly confused by this question @osprey

osprey · Answer

p'raps they achieve their melancholy in old age, and counterbalance it with the humour to show that they're old but not senile ?