The perfect number sequence is, 1+2+3=6, 1+2+4+7+14=28, 1+2+4+8+16+31+62+124+248=496.
I decided to write a poem using the mathematical rules of perfect numbers.
It includes sentences ranging from one word to two hundred and forty-eight words.
The challenge was that these last two sentences are required to be of substantial length to achieve the mathematical formula that the poem is about.
The formula is: First grouping, the divisors of six. Sentence one, one word – Sentence two, two words – Sentence three, three words – All words equaling six.
Second grouping, the divisors of twenty-eight – Sentence one, one word – Sentence two, two words – Sentence three, four words – Sentence four, seven words – Sentence five, fourteen words – All words equaling twenty-eight.
Third grouping, the divisors of four hundred and ninety-six – Sentence one, one word – Sentence two, two words – Sentence three, four words – Sentence four, eight words – Sentence five, sixteen words –
Sentence six, thirty-one words – Sentence seven, sixty-two words -Sentence eight, one hundred and twenty-four words – Sentence nine, two hundred and forty-eight words – All words equaling four hundred and ninety-six words.

A perfect number poem:
  1+2+3=6
No!
Take pity?
My head hurts.
  1+2+4+7+14=28
Why?
Why not?
Math is just numbers.
Numbers are not for lovers of words.
What possible benefit can be had to dabble in theories of prime and perfect?
  1+2+4+8+16+31+62+124+248=496
Yes!
I know.
I will write poetry.
Letters are symbols given life by poetic words.
That’s why I am a writer not a mathematician; although, both letter and number hold symbolism.

The method of a poem starts with a word in conjunction with another, growing, flowing without restraint; it is rhythmic in such a way that when it’s properly done it inspires.
Arithmetic starts with a number followed by another, not only to multiply,but to divide, subtract, and add, in integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, both positive and negative, rhythmic algorithms, axioms flowing without limit, all of these in such a way that digits like words when done properly also inspire; nevertheless, how can this be, this numerical quandary, so much like poetry?
Oh, how I loath mathematics; my mind spins up, spirals down, seizes with convulsions at the mere mention of fractions, or decimals in Euclidean geometry, theorems in addition to proofs to prove theories of non-Euclidean geometries, and infinity; embraced by poets in literary discourse also embraced by mathematicians in infinite sets; poetry in numbers that I never would believe could inspire so many words about numbers in words that are prime for the numbers of prime and perfect, yet simple it seems these numerical signs when likened to a passionate poem in a foreign language; it’s a secret to be deciphered, to inspire these words about perfect numbers in numbers of words so that I can no longer say, “Oh, how I loath mathematics…”.
Although you may be distracted by my lengthy dialogue concerning my prior loathing of mathematics, (this exposition reminds me of something I once said: “all numbers are to me like squaring the circle”)
consider sums in the terms of “perfect numbers”, and “prime numbers”, because in the time that I have taken to write these words, and count these words,
I have thought about how a prime number interacts with the divisors of perfect numbers; I have taken into account the number six, its divisor, one, is added to its divisor, two, and these divisors are then added with the next divisor, three, to equal the perfect number six; furthermore, this perfect number can also be seen when the first divisor, one, is doubled to equal two, the second divisor, and the next divisor three–which is a prime number– is multiplied with the last divisor, two;
indeed, the result is again the perfect number six; therefore, to add further understanding another example is the number twenty eight: its divisor, one, is doubled equaling the next divisor, two, which is doubled equaling the divisor four,
and the next divisor– being a prime number—seven, is multiplied by four, the prior divisor, to equal again the perfect number twenty eight;
otherwise, it works just as well to add all the divisors of twenty eight so that one plus two plus four plus seven plus fourteen also equals twenty eight; either way, the result is a perfect number, is poetry.
(Salie Davis, April, 2009)