Cassie’s hat

sunrise, thirty degrees,

take your blood pressure meds

and crawl back in bed

9 am, put on Cassie’s hat,

grab coffee in a blue cup

and walk to the park

watch mallards rush to safety

on the other side of the pond

as you approach

return from the park,

your father’s voice demands to know why

leaves from Sunday’s storm remain unraked

set down your empty cup,

take the rake from its place on the porch

and begin a son’s chore

hot and sweaty,

go inside, remove Cassie’s hat,

sit down and take break

your father’s voice

admonishes you for sitting down

before you have finished raking

in your strongest adolescent voice

reply that you are 70 years old

and need to take a break

12-2-22