No quantity or number a positive
nothingness an empty quantity the
figure ‘0’ the rim of a trashcan a
world globe a hula-hoop, mark in tic-
tac-toe, marbles, candies, a measured
moon, 360 circumference, an occasional
raindrop, the face of a watch the
place holder between negative and positive
numbers zero plural in three sheep
infinite potential, really endless
possibilities null value love minus
zero as a title generic eyes a
sign for silence the sights of a gun
for firing the reverberation of a stone
A South Carolina Arts Commission literary fellowship recipient, Terri McCord has earned awards from Hub City, Emrys, the Poetry Society of South Carolina, literary journals such as the Southeast Review, South Carolina Review, Yalobusha Review, and the Vermont Studio Center. Her poems have been nominated for a “Best of the Net” and four Pushcarts. She has received a new “Best of the Net” nomination (2025) from Same Faces Collective. The Beauts is her latest published collection. She loves nature, animals, relationships, and working with communication. She is a visual artist as well and practices visual literacy.