As I walked past a Salvation Army store,
I looked in the window,
And couldn’t believe what I saw,
There was a hat on display, that caught my eye!
It was like the one that my Dad used to wear.
This was something that I had to buy!
I went in and tried it on,
And would you believe
It was the perfect fit!
I adjusted the brim just like my Dad did,
And thought, this is it,
Standing in front of the mirror,
Suddenly, my eyes became moist, and I started to cry!
There are some things you can never dismiss.
Or, ever say goodbye.
What I saw in my reflection,
Was my Dad, looking back at me,
For a moment, I thought,
How can this be?
I produced my card and paid for the hat,
And thought, well, that is that!
As I left the store, I started to wonder,
Will my son, one day, put on my hat,
And have the experience that I had?
As he puts it on, and says,
I look just like my Dad!
— Dennis Freeman 2023©
