the value of X is

[wytchcroft]

how many X's add up to Y?
how many X's does it take to make a line?
or a cross?
how many X's have you got?

how many X's add up to an O?
how many Ohs can you make with a zero?
how many zeros add up to naught?

is 0 the infinite
or is it simply one more nothing?
how many sweet nothings have your X's bought?

does an X know their value?
does X understand Y
XXX
OOO
it's a draw every time.

.................
title brazenly swiped from a book by poppy z. brite