The World's Tallest Barber Pole
At the world's tallest barber
pole you can see the world's
tallest barber pole. Man, unable
to move tectonic plates, has
chopped down Creation,
smoothed and rounded the
perfect rugged exterior,
painted and cemented the
monolith just past the parking
lot’s curb and just before
the fence around a standard-
sized track and field. Seventy-two
feet of familiar red, white, blue,
white pirouette skyward
ending far short of the stars.
Three-and-a-half stars on
Trip Advisor advising not to
travel far, complaints of chipped
paint, tongue-in-cheek jokes
trying to justify the detour
left by people who only saw
the world’s tallest barber pole,
but didn’t stay to listen to the
gabble. People who must not
have seen Paul Bunyan sheepishly
patting his pockets having missed
the Cash Only sign, his pantomime
only able to buy time. Time
they say you can never get
back for once you have seen
the world’s tallest barber pole,
you will always have seen
the world’s tallest barber pole.
Zachary Paul is a father, husband, educator, and poet whose work has appeared in various literary journals, including Constellations, Cirque, and Gold Man Review. He is originally from the Oregon Coast but has since moved inland.
See more of Zachary's work in 14.1