this afternoon  
you cut my hair 
i sit on a kitchen chair 
in the living room 
watching tv  
you work and ask 
are these the right clippers 
i watch the screen 
yes i’m sure 
why 
there’s a lot coming off 

you’ve been my hairdresser  
for most of this year 
it was strange at first 
tentative 
careful 
necessary 
but we're used to it now  
complacent even 
i can almost see your scalp 
you say  
mildly concerned 

it's the wrong setting 
i’m not keen 
you seem alarmed 
it’s ok keep going 
can’t stop now 
it’ll be fine 
i like it short 
you know i do 
unruffled 
we agree 
it won’t need doing again 
any time soon