Old Hat

[couchgrouch]

Old HatDad met old Rex Allenat some rodeo paradeRex was signing autographsDad was seven or eighthe came by himselfcos he loved singing cowboysfought his way to the frontthrough the crowds and noiseRex kept scratching his namehe shook ev'ry hand in that placebut looking down he saw a boywith plastic chaps and a smiling faceDad had nothing to signplus he was kinda shybut Rex gave that young cowpokesomething to remember him byit had a fine silver band, it was wide-brimmed and blackand it took Dad years to fill Rex's old hatwell Dad wore that Stetsjust like a lucky charmthough cowboys lacked fortuneeating beans...bunking in barnsthe first time he caught Ma's eyewas a roping show near townshe thought his saddle was a throneand his hat was a crownfolks said she'd be a fool, to wed a man like thathe'd stay on the move, cos his fav'rite roofwas just an old hatit's true Dad was often gone, but Ma never felt alonehis mem'ry kept her warm till he came backthey'd ride double to the dawn, where he'd kiss her hard and long'neath the shelter of that old hatRex's songs were playingwhen Ma found her angel dead bottle of wings in his handthat ragged halo on his headand there wasn't much pointin putting a pin-stripe suiton someone who loved ponchosand bull-hide bootsbut Ma got a rag and rubbed, that brim till it turned blackDad wasn't meeting the dirt, with dust on his old hat(c)2004 Robert George