Moses Kainwo - PAPA’S HAT PAPA’S HAT PAPA’S HAT
Papa wore his hats in shades: <br />Black hat on black suit, <br />Brown hat on brown suit; <br />You name the suit, <br />And I name the hat. <br /> <br />Under his hat, <br />Stick in hand, <br />Papa matched <br />Like a Yankee; <br />In spite of heat. <br /> <br />I used to wonder: <br />When he wore his first hat, <br />Why he wore it, <br />Where he wore it, <br />And who saw it. <br /> <br />Did he grow tall, <br />Or did he grow old, <br />Under his first hat; <br />Wearing it over his heart, <br />In style for the file. <br /> <br />Red hats, white hats, <br />Green hats, yellow hats, <br />Felt hats, straw hats, <br />Bowler hats, top hats, <br />Panama hats, peaked hats; <br /> <br />Orange hats and Stetsons. <br />Papa saw them all, <br />But did not wear them all; <br />He only wore what matched, <br />The colours of his heart. <br /> <br />Maybe to Church <br />On a sunny day: <br />Black for black, <br />Brown for brown, <br />He wore them all to match. <br /> <br />I have seen hats, <br />I have won hats, <br />But the gait is unique; <br />And Papa had his gait <br />With his head up. <br /> <br />With shoulders up, <br />From time to time, <br />And stick in hand; <br />He saw them all <br />And prayed a prayer. <br /> <br />I have an idea, <br />To put on Papa’s hat <br />And walk the streets: <br />For fame and favours <br />Papa scored. <br /> <br />I cannot wear a woman’s hat, <br />Since that should go with women’s dress <br />And fake license to the ladies’. <br />No, Papa had none of that <br />And I must be me: <br /> <br />Papa’s son in Papa’s hat; <br />I shall grow tall, <br />And smile tall, <br />And speak tall, <br />And wave my hat above hearts.<br /><br />Moses Kainwo<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/papa-s-hat-papa-s-hat-papa-s-hat/