Procedure

The ritual is the same

before I leave;

I shave the grey facial stubble that grew

within the 24 hours of my last shaving

I trim and dye the still black edges of the goatee and the moustache

to maintain the look  of  a man in his late thirties or early forties

looking for women in that age group

because I’m not ready to look fifty-1.

I scrub I loofah I wash I moisturize my face

brush and whiten my teeth.

I leave home and I face the world with a smile on my face,

thinking

this might be the day.

I practice talking to and smiling at  strangers and  people I know

throughout the day

and the ritual is the same

when I return.

today wasn't the day.

I go to bed and wake up in the morning and start over.

maybe tomorrow's the day.