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Haircut Song The momentis the moment When Calvin mans the broom So all the broken teeth Lie in the center of the room But I'm strapped into my chair & No one seems to see What's very clear, what's very clear To me: There's my crew cut father admiring the sign That Calvin keeps taped To his window all the time— “No n:gg:rs are allowed!” My sun-burnt father grins: Calvin's cutting off his Elvis locks Like he's shearing off his sins. Yes the moment is the moment When Calvin mans the broom So all the yanked out hair Lies in the center of the room & the combs soak in the green juice & the scissors in the red So the tetter & the lice are sweetly dead. Outside we hear the yells Of those who want to pay For the haircuts Calvin sells But he tells them “Go away!” Yet they linger & they stare Into Calvin's darkened shop While my father frowns upon them As if to make them stop. And I wonder & I wonder Why they want to come inside And sit among the clutter Of all the dreams that died Why do they shake their heads These proud people in the street & even carry picket signs & linger in the heat? Yes the moment is the moment When Calvin mans the broom So all the broken teeth Lie in the center of the room. And my father takes my hand As we pass the silent crowd And I ask him what they want And he shrugs & laughs out loud. Yes the moment is the moment When Calvin mans the broom & all the pulled out hair Lies in the center of the room. I keep thinking of those years In that little southern space; How Calvin cleaned his shears Before he oiled my waves in place.… I keep thinking of the smells Of pomade and barbers' creams & that summer of the hells Of the beatings & the screams.