he had a barbershop on Broadway.
it sat perfectly
midway between the river and
"the other side of town".
you passed George's
whether you wanted to or not,
but people wanted to.
he made them forget the mortgage
their ugly spouse
and tragedy.
he was half entertainer
half evangelist
which didn't leave much for barbering.
he chased away heartaches
like tufts of hair blown
across the green
and white tiled floor.
his guitar came out
more regularly than his clippers
and sermons were included
in the basic package.
you paid for the song and
the therapy,
the haircuts were free.
There's never been another character like my father. Not just because he was my father. He was unique piece of God's handiwork. I just happened to be a footnote as son. His approach with people constructed my behaviors and changed everything about my world. He was often a mess, but his heart was for everyone.