Hairs

By Ramiro Valdes

My hairs break through the jungle  
of my scalp and retreat immediately.  
I find them dead in the  
palm of my hand—  
executed  
by a razor  
you once gave me.  

Oh,  
I can’t forget you.  
You were a  
sponge enveloping  
its body on mine,  
but you died  
from excessive use.  

My sorrows gorging  
on my tears  
like a buffet  
have led me to this:  
my pen, now  
a machete,  
trimming  
the lines of  
my poetry
against excess.

Ramiro Valdes is a poet residing in Miami. His works have appeared in several literary magazines.