The poem tells the story of a barber who dies and is buried in his shop. The speaker reflects on the barber's life and how he was loved by his customers for his kindness and skill with scissors. The barber's death is seen as a loss to the community, but also as an opportunity for the speaker to reflect on the fleeting nature of human life.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1848 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Political