Too Close

My body shoved me through the 

bathroom door from girl to grown-up.

That leg hair had to disappear,

I was no shaggy dog.

I thought I’d have no trouble 

with a shiny metal razor.

Of course I was a klutz and nicked

my legs in many places.

I watched red trickles hit the floor.

I thought I would bleed out.

Daddy heard me cry and placed 

a tissue on each wound.

He showed me the technique to get

A bloodless, smooth close shave.

published in Sonnets to Sing