Beast

When she went to cut his hair,
the scalp rolled back
like skin peeled down a banana.
She was not pleased.

She’d exposed the works of his brain
and she saw his knees
were much more hairy than his head.

He had fur around his neck
and his head stuck out
pink and shiny as a tomato.

She tried to give the haircut he expected,
but it didn't work.
For one thing, his eye was rheumy
and he collapsed
when she turned to pick up her shears.

A heart attack:
that's what the medics told her,
but he just looked drained.
That is the memory she keeps.
He was judged insane.

She now refuses to work and has burned the dress
on which he wiped his goo
to her distress.