'pretty damn good looking'
art by René Magritte
Fernando Pessoa, Portuguese writer who adopted over seventy literary identities, said, “Man shouldn’t be able to see his own face--there’s nothing more sinister,” which would make your local barber shop a particularly evil spot. Here I attempt to take Pessoa at his word.
mirrors of the nighttime "The inventor of the mirror poisoned the human heart." -Fernando Pessoa plaintive bell comfort of a door clicking shut the bracing mingle of hair oil shampoo gel talk radio’s tinny urgency a buzz of clippers snippety-snip of shears It’s good to see you, Tom. Let me get your cane. Here, I’ll adjust the chair. Okay now, step forward. brush of your fingertips on hard-cracked leather cold aluminum around the back down the armrests facing the mirror now the one one thing that ceases to exist when rendered sightless The usual, Tom? what still can be answered the usual still usual the rest disabled of light color beauty yet in corners of memory a glimpse of forehead hair in black waves a smooth pale complexion thin nose full lips strong jaw pretty damn good looking you always could agree fingers now into your scalp How’s that feel? Good, Tom? and how are you to feel to remind yourself of yourself the celluloid of a life vaulted print fading to sepia you your own mental sketch artist the litter of remarks: grey sprouting something stuck between your teeth and jowls yes the early sag of jowls That’s all done, then, Tom. horsehair swish a familiar itch and that other mirror the hand-held unsought on the counter top another ritual of admiration lost to your face you raise a hand a finger tip draw it down trace the hook of your nose what once only a mirror could reveal Looks good, Tom. See you next time. the bell sounds and you think about tomorrow shaving how the mirror that no longer exists will tell you how to let your hands touch to know your face your body your body to know also what’s there to be grasped not seen there to be spoken into the world to know all the more what time needs of you
Tempting to repatriate tete a tete, chapeaux with mirror in a timely face to face meeting to meet again for a trim.
Marvelous, Magritte, Breton et al.
Excellent reflection
Time travels
Contrails in the sky