The Straw Hat
Original Poetry by Tom Browning
It’s just a little straw hat
my Daddy wore
when he walked our dog
from door to door
and I leave it hanging
on the wall most of the time
I wear it when I go to church
toss it up
when life seems great
carry it around under my arm
sew it up if it gets torn
My Daddy only had one hat
to try and fill with this and that
an apple to share
with three hungry mouths
a dime or two to save
for a cold cold rainy day
I stuff it with my unkempt hair
and sleep at night
with it under my chair
I write a poem
and tilt the brow
(I’m wearing it right now)
it’s brought me painful memories
when Dad would pass out under the tree
and snore so loud and burp and fart
on a late Sunday afternoon
I don’t know when I’ll call it mine
perhaps some day
when my little girl asks me
to give her hand away
I’ll give her tons of money
that’s just lying around
but that’s not enough of me
I’ll give her a horse and four new cars
but that’s not nearly all of me
but when I give her my old straw hat
then she’ll know how much I think of her
“I just gave you
the world my Dear”
Cape Coral , Florida
Original writing by Tom Browning, Louisville, KY, all rights reserved.
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