Poetry of Place was an experiment in sharing, gifting poems to shopkeepers in exchange for their stories... Golden Touch

It’s my wedding anniversary Ari is cutting my hair “To make you look younger” He says We guess each other’s age A trick he’s pretty good at We talk about daughters Sons Families How he goes back every year When he can To northern Iran But really his family’s here now

Round the houses in Brum From a young age Now his home is Dudley Four years in the shop

Cutting Blending Trimming The heat from the hair dryer Beats the sweepings to the floor and I escape for twenty minutes In the stories In the swift hands The mirrors Posters from a bygone age Product on the shelves

The smell of wax and leather

Scissors sweep over the comb and I learn that the skills are hard taught From the first time with the razor

To the years later Efficient Precise Art in my eyes

Soon his brother will join him From Manchester Where he’s currently learning To catch up The future is all about the family and I hope the shop is still here For when his son Picks up the scissors For the first time

Thanks for the haircut Ari It took years off me