The Unnecessary Shave                                     


            I had never shaved another man before

            The beard had overgrown the razor’s competence
            So I resorted to a pair of scissors first

            It was excruciating –
            Not the tedium of clipping hair
            But the utter pliancy of 
            My father’s head

            I worked away until
            A semblance of the person
            Who inspired fear
            With just a glance
            Had been restored

            Somehow I had managed 
            Not to nick his face
            Though it was even harder 
            To accept his silent thanks

            So instead I lectured him about his health
            And promised to be back
            Before his beard could take revenge 
            On me again


            ________________________________________________________________________


            Emanuel E. García, Wandering Bark2013