your ghost demands time in the mirror

vanity does not die 

except in the way that it did because you did

and so i will shift out of focus

vacate center stage for your reflection

to have a turn, round shiny bald of your head 

were we to walk through a pollen-soaked street

i will not crease your shoes with my clumsy

i will shrug on my bravery, ask the nice folks

at mcdonalds to make your fries fresh

and while i will not stay awake 

for more than 30 minutes of The Matrix

i will snore quietly the whole way through

i’ll stay right there 

like your love for it got to grow 

with each of my decades 

dad 

teach me how to get that bald shiny

just like you. and there we’ll be 

two scalps approaching bald 

all around us dropping curls 

you clean as you go, i imagine 

use blade oil to start, alcohol to end

you teach the steps i usually ignore 

aren’t there ghost barbershops 

where you are now? 

did you just want to visit? 

to be side by side