Discomfort

I had to look it up
What a strange piece of history--
Hair shirt.
Once I knew the meaning
my mind would not stop racing

Whose hair?
Is my hair shirt woven from?

My first thought is my husband
but it is almost too easy
to blame him for my itchy life

Next I think of my mother
perhaps it is woven
from her greybrownblonde hair
but in truth I know
she tried her best to relieve me
of any itch I ever had

Digging deeper, the more obvious choice
would be my father.
Intentional or not,
he has made my life very itchy

but I am just not sure
that my hair shirt is woven from his hair.
Besides,
he does not have much left.

Eventually it becomes obvious
but I am not sure that I like the answer.

I realize in a calm panic.
My hair shirt is woven from my hair.
My own itchy hair.