Edward Wadsworth, woodcut, 1918 (lithographic book proof, 1974), 51.2 x 41.2 cm 

Now see this, dear reader, imagine the scene: 

Of a submarine hunting the sea. 

A brain and two eyes inside spy through a viewer, 

Thinks: down here, ze ships can’t see me! 

All it takes is one look, and doing some sums 

Tells me where and how fast the ship’s going. 

Launch a torpedo to meet when it comes, 

In bitz the güt ship be a-blowing. 

But what if Heinrich was unable to fathom how 

A boat was a-coming or going? 

Ist starboard port when stern becomes bow? 

Mein Gott! Sums have no way of knowing.

The ship that he saw, yet did not, had been Dazzled. 

Camo-, but not, stalled his thinking. 

Two hundred + ships, painted starboard + port 

= Thousands were saved from a sinking. 

See — confusion has function before it is measured.

Brown cows lazy dogs in equation.

And what we can’t fathom should therefore be treasured.

Look-stopping is good on occasion.

– “These Woodcuts Could Safe­guard a Nation!,” Will Holder, Dot Dot Dot #9, 2004