~ I ~

Today I'll  sing  of  'Me-in-Hats' to you
requesting you to listen patiently.
I'll bare my heart and soul so you can view 
the hats I wore while traveling life's sea
To some the paths I trod may seem complex
Their unexpected twists and turns brought joy and pain.
A woman's ways are puzzling to your sex,
these hard things are not so easy to explain.

The varied hats in life which we all wear,
are colorful and come in ev'ry style.
Some folks refuse to cover up their hair
but I was one who wore hats all the while
My heart says, "Come, let's take a tiny peek,
let's walk the shores of hat adventure land.
For there we'll find the answers that you seek,
what makes you tick, your mate will understand.

For hats are more than merely bands and brims,
they're made of culture, daydreams and glad whims."

~ II ~

They're made of culture, daydreams and glad whims,
of cotton, tweed, and dainty, sheer, fine lace.
They're made of special cloth that never dims,
the many hats I wore, I love to trace
As I recall my hats with joy and ease,
a baby sits upon her mother's lap.
A smile is on her face and a soft breeze
plays gently with the curls beneath her cap.

Time rushes by and before long it seems,
that cap is changed for wide brimmed hat of blue.
A bright young face beneath sunbonnet beams,
her joy is sweet, spontaneous and true!
The happy hats that this dear toddler wears
are traded in when she starts off to school.
Her woes begin, her life fills up with cares,
when wearing thinking-caps becomes the rule.

Long studies follow, and soon after that,
she wears a fancy graduation hat.

~ III ~

She wears a fancy graduation hat
to celebrate the freedom she has gained.
But lest her wallet stay unfilled and flat,
This young adult must soon be fully trained.
So knowing this, my knowledge I applied
and in three years a full fledged nurse became.
I wore my smart, white nursing hat with pride.
I served the weak, the wounded, sick, and lame.

A sudden change of hats came to my door
When you appeared and wooed and won my heart.
I loved my nursing but I loved you more,
I fell for you, adored you from the start.
I wanted you much more than words can say,
then like a princess in a fairy tale,
I was your bride, and, on our wedding day,
I wore a lovely, sheer, white wedding veil.

Your hand in mine, devoid of fear and strife,
we walked as one into a brand new life.

~ IV ~

We walked as one into a brand new life,
a life that I supposed with ease was filled.
To my surprise,  the hats worn by a wife
were numerous but I was truly thrilled.
A baker's hat was placed upon my head.
In time, I learned to cook nutritious meals.
Your well loved food was served with homemade bread.
Our lives were filled with hope and high ideals.

Within ten years a family arrived.
Six children came to grace and bless us much.
I'll never know for sure how we survived,
Perhaps it was my many-hatted touch.
A chauffeur, judge... of course, a referee,
A guide, a doctor, counsellor and more -
All of these hats were gladly worn by me.
In truth, I never counted it a chore.

Our kids grew up as children always do...
and then I found there was just me and you.

~ V ~

And then I found there was just me and you,
Which seemed so strange, but, with you by my side,
We ventured far and wide, we sailed and flew.
I wore my new explorer's hats with pride.
A toque was worn when skiing down Swiss hills,
A perky, bright beret was worn in France.
The hats of many countries brought me thrills,
I was completely charmed by their romance.

You laughed and smiled with me-in-hats always,
you said hats added sugar and much spice
that flavored all our travels in those days.
You liked my hats and told me once or twice.
You boldly wore more than a few yourself -
fedoras, bowlers, stetsons, baseball caps.
Dress hats - there were a dozen on your shelf!
In winter, all your hats had warm ear flaps.

When thinking of those hats I sit and weep,
they are the dearest memories I keep.

~ VI ~

They are the dearest memories I keep
all safely here within a lonely heart
that broke the day you slipped away in sleep.
From this vain world, someday we all depart.
A widow's veil I wore, and, dressed in black,
I mourned with tears of sorrow and great pain.
Although I knew that you would not be back,
in dreams, we walked as one-in-hats again.

I realized that dreams could not compete,
they form a weak, frail, meager substitute.
For only God can make a life complete,
and free from grief's sad, suffocating root.
When I let go of all my bitterness,
there came a peace that is hard to describe.
From up on high, sweet angels rushed to bless
The fresh wine I had choosen to inbibe.
My widow's veil was put away at last,
I live now in the present not the past.

~ VII ~

I live now in the present not the past.
for I am of the living, not the dead.
The hats I wear, perhaps you'd find a blast,
for most of them are boldly colored red.
They are flamboyant, richly styled and bright,
well suited to my wondrous, new lifestyle.
With purple dresses, they look quite all right,
I wear them with a Mona Lisa smile.

About good things in life I sing and boast
of hats and health and all the many times
we shared together things that means the most
and wrote our memoirs here in precious  lines.
I wonder as you look down from on high,
if you applaud my brand new attitude?
Do you take off your halo, smile and sigh?
Do your ears ring with my fresh gratitude?

Our hats are bound together with love's glue,
this day I sing of 'Me-in-Hats' to you.