January Reality, 1998

January Reality

The cost of living goes up
the perm in my hair
grows out
shall I try for waist-length
or make it to Paolo's?

He is Brasileiro
his hole-in-the-wall shop
s0 tiny
we must back in
only two chairs
(hard old-style)

and get a haircut and perm
for only ten dollars
Can you believe that?
It won't last long
He is too good
his eyes pure liquid

He will soon become
the trendy Paolo
and drop us ten-spot
ladies
for upscale women
who can pay sixty

Coda: It will happen.

Notes

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McDaniel, Wilma. (2001) Borrowed Coats. Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy University of California, Merced Library. Copyright owned by the Regents of the University of California.