All bareness forgiven
  the razors gone dry

The excuses all shaven
  no more asking why

A soul once abundant
  my face starts to fill

No sentence redundant
  no lines to go shrill

New destiny chosen
  man’s burden unsung

The look becomes learned
  masculinity sum

All chains have unshackled
  a face that goes deep

A beard now awakens
  —ancient voices that sleep

(Villanova Pennsylvania: October, 2015)