THE BARBER'S

By Walter de la Mare

Gold locks, and black locks,

Red locks and brown,

Topknot to love-curl

The hair wisps down;

Straight above the clear eyes,

Rounded round the ears,

Snip-snap and snick-a-snick,

Clash the Barber's shears;

Us, in the looking-glass,

Footsteps in the street,

Over, under, to and fro,

The lean blades meet;

Bay Rum or Bear's Grease,

A silver groat to pay -

Then out a-shin-shan-shining

In the bright, blue day.