Decision

She gives me complimentary coffee

and unsolicited advice:

"Marriage is a sacrifice." I wince;

my mirror-image eyes shun hers.

The heads of ancient ladies bake under hoods

like bread and butter puddings.

She models me with scissors and razor,

scalds my scalp with her hairdryer,

presents me with an acceptable soufflé.

My salt and pepper has turned to gold.

As she brushes my neck of strands

I can almost hear her thinking,

She never knows what she wants.

But I do. This time I must marry up.

(First published in The Frogmore Papers, UK, September 2016.)