Lawnmower

Haircuts at school told you something
the crew cut kids were the toughest, unembellished

they went to the barbers with their dads
and asked for a scalp like a mat of spikes
there was nowhere on their head where weakness could dwell

girls knew and liked the severity, the brutishness
they wanted to touch and run their fingers through

hold the heads in their laps and stroke them
and the boys would let them, sometimes.