almost cut my hair

i remember seeing

my old barber on the street

one day.

my hair down to my shoulders.

in the rebellious

stage

of adolescence.

he asked me why haven't

i been in.

i haven't cut your hair in ages,

he said.

you look better

with short hair, a part on the side,

like paul newman, or redford.

and i said, sorry, but no.

i'm making a political statement.

i'll get my hair cut when Nixon's

out of the white house.

to which laughed and said.

i understand.

i felt that way about herbert hoover.