A six year old

and the Barber Shop

by denny bastian 2013

Things like………….

red and white tiles on checkered floor
chairs lined up, inside the door
fedora rack and rain coats slick
mirrors, and clippers hum and click.

shutunk, shutunk, the chair ascends
shush and clunk, the chair descends
hair on floor random patterns make
changed each sidestep a barber take.

nylon jacket over short sleeve white 
thinning scissors held at angle just right 
worn out feet in worn out sole 
glasses perched at end of nose.

clatter of shaving brush in soapy cup
slap of straight razor readied to cut
scratch of whisker, the stretch of skin,
heated white towel on tender chin.

fat grey cat, the patrons ignore
waddles like a queen across the floor
jumps up on my lap, curls around twice
forget her night job of catching the mice.

we watch together, a brushcut short
the smiling barber, his weather report
his youthful smile that lights up the room
worthy memories not forgotten soon.

....that remind me of my father.