A mathematician left the convention

 focused on 9, the digit that sits

 in the billionth decimal place of pi,

 ratio of circumference to width

 of the yellow circle that parted the clouds

 as she strolled down Commerce Street

 to the Rio Rio Café for lunch and a beer.

On fire with jalapeños

 she went shopping

 for a souvenir.

 She bought earrings —

 red-red plastic peppers

 with green stems.

 She said, "Hot peppers

 are like mathematics  —

 with strong flavor

 that takes over

 what they enter."