The light in there has never done me favors—

The light in there has never done me favors—

flat white, the kind that finds the line

that wasn't there last week. I was too close.

Found one hair. Pulled it. Held it to the shine

of the bulb. Not silver. More the color

of nothing in particular yet. I set

it on the porcelain edge. Got dressed.

Went to the party for the kid who'd get

the job. Both times I'd tried. He looked

genuinely pleased about it. I ate the cheese

from the little wax wrappers. Said the words.

Took a cab home at eleven. The keys,

the hallway, the bathroom light.

The hair was still there on the white rim.

I brushed my teeth and left it.