Beard Poem
by George Carlin

(recalled from my childhood)

Here's my beard.
Ain't it wierd?
Don't be sceered,
Just a beard.

I grew my beard when I was 24. One year, just a few years after I grew it, I shaved it off pre-Pesach and then grew it back during the Omer. Today I shaved my beard. It evokes a lot of feelings and thoughts for me. My mom (OBM) used to ask me to cover my beard with my hands so she could see me as I looked pre-beard. I kind of like my beard, but not when it gets too long. One student once said that he feels that it's appropriate for Rabbis to have beards. I hear what he's saying, and yet it's a slippery slope. There's a long post that will stay in my mind for now - lots of free associations flowing. I need to cut myself off. Tomorrow is a fast day as well as the funeral of the father of a dear friend. I need to sleep.