hair pulled out with a fork

all the hair in the world
grew in our drain--
strands of all different colors
& lengths-- 
a full galaxy of hair peering
from the grate in the bathtub.
i sat on the side of the tub
with a fork, trying
to unclog the nest--
out came jewelry too--
a necklace with red gems 
i wore to one christmas concert,
a pin mom would stick
to the lapel of her jean jacket,
& all those stray earrings--
almost none of them were mine,
earrings planted in the hair
like seeds-- their glinting 
pointed backs. i didn't
question who did this
to our drain-- these kinds 
of things just happen.
somedays all the hair
comes to conspire against you:
curly hair, blonde stringy hair,
blue scraggly hair.
the ceiling decided to rain,
no not the shower head
the actual ceiling
all over the house &
the clogged drain wouldn't 
come unclogged so the water
level rose. it told myself
not to worry-- that some
would have to give. the water
came up to my shins,
murky green water-- like
a great big mug of tea.
i wondered if there 
were heads in the drain 
along with the hair--
if that was what was keeping
it clogged-- if down there 
a bunch of heads were 
talking about their hair--
ghosts or maybe alive 
just dislocated. a few
nights ago i woke up
in a dark tunnel that might
have been someone else's drain.
i made myself fall asleep again--
i didn't get a good look
but maybe there were others
down there too. have you 
ever had your hair pulled out
with a fork? pasta skull people.
the water coming up to my waist.
i make the best of it 
& spill soap to make suds--
a bloom of white foam.
back in the bathroom i submerge 
myself to talk to the drain--
i say i understand i understand
sometimes it's better that way
i didn't know what i was 
talking about but that seemed
comforting. a great gag & the hair 
all escaped-- a sliding of 
jewels down a throat. bundles
of hair as bouquets. i imagine 
sticking my hand down into 
the drain & feeling all that
hair but it's too late &
the water lowers into 
the tub-- everything dripping.
i sleep in the slick bathtub,
the drain sings, voice getting
softer through the night
until by morning 
it is gone.