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Poems
121
A Man’s Best Friend
Mr. Gică is a man’s best friend. Is a man’s wife sick? Here
comes Mr. Gică with a white sleeve for a man to cry on. Did
he just have a child? Before he’s taken from the hospital, he
gets a nice cut, parted on the left. Does he have an important
meeting? Mr. Gică shaves him to the quick, as only he can. Is
a man going to a wedding or a New Year’s party? He gets a
massage first from Mr. Gică, to improve his blood-flow and
avoid an apoplexy. Is a man part of an official delegation or
greeting someone at the airport? Mr. Gică’s dryer puts waves
in his hair, adding volume and shine. Is a man giving a keynote
at the Academy? Hemust haveMr. Gică level his sideburns and
trim his nose hair. And ear hair. And clip the rebellious hairs
off his neck. Mr. Gică is a man’s best friend. Even as a child,
a man learns to go to him, at the start of each trimester. And
Mr. Gică gets him ready, as best he can, for life: he washes his
hair, combs him, adds pomade, and a man leaves with calm,
confidence, and gratitude toward Mr. Gică, a man’s best, best
friend.