Mustafa who knew me well was a refugee too: he from Syria, me from the realm of common sense.
How would you like it cut? he asked.
Like yours, I said.
Like mine?
Yes.
He didn’t chuckle. He didn’t comment on the outrageousness of my request.
Apart from the difference in hair color, there was also the disparity in volume though he admitted, even at 27, he was losing his hair.
He cut, he swooped, he shaved, he teased and cajoled but when finished he wrought a little miracle.
How did it look? Shaved at the sides , but on top what hair I had was swept to the other side of my head and held down by gel. It looked amazing.
Askew, I said, It looks amazingly askew.
Like your writing, he said.
Yes, like my writing.
John Malone 
This is perfect, John. I love every line.
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thanks, Worms ; it felt right from the start: it’s the only poem I’ve written about having my hair cut; come to think of it, you don’t see many haircut poems or songs for that matter —
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Interesting. Although there’s the Banjo Paterson one… which poem is it in which the barber causes a gentleman to think his throat is cut? I think some of my favourites of your poems are set at the Barber although they don’t usually mention the actual hair-cutting process.
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ahha yes, there’s the one about Costa, set in the brickworks market: encounters with common folk, like you and me:) and the Banjo Patterson poem you’re thinking of is ‘The Man from Ironbark’. What a hoot 🙂 We’ll probably not see his like again —
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🙂 Probably not.
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Ah!
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Your writing is super cool like they haircut; I agree.
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hey thanks K for that gorgeous comment; just back from gym with my super cool haircut 🙂
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What a super piece of writing. And the haircut; were you pleased with it? Did the barber ask you?
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thanks Hobbo; I appreciate that; yes it flowed from the pen, it happens sometimes as you are well aware 🙂
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was I pleased with it? I certainly was; and it made Mustafa happy 🙂
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You found a soulmate of sorts.
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thanks, Neil; we got on famously 🙂 and three days on, it is still a super-cool haircut 🙂 it really gave me a lift —
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Wonderful!
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you know, Bob: I wrote it in one sitting: it was so unforced ; it’s good when that happens 🙂
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Yes. I agree. It doesn’t happen often (at least to me), but when it does, it’s a great feeling.
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What does Mustafa’s haircut, your writing, and me all have in common?
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I’ve been thinking about this riddle overnight but I can’t work it out; you’re just going to have to tell me 🙂
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We’re all a bit askew in one way or another.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you up all night! Did you have fun, though?
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I fell asleep wondering and in the morning, just now, I got up and said, I’m going to have to ask 🙂
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This is so funny! Lol. Your words do wonders for this particular cut, John! 🙂
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thanks Terveen; I was really surprised by what he did with so little material to work with 🙂 maybe Barbers are like poets 🙂
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Haha! I like that thought. 🙂
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it’s the stand-up in me; always rears its ugly head this time of year 🙂
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Love it. A poem about hair, a hairy poem?
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there aren’t many hair poems, Ulle: thought I’d add to the meager quantity 🙂
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thank you; I hope it attracts readers 🙂
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