¿Cuál es el tempo?
By Robert Henssler
Hat, Sombrero, Chapeau
Cordobés – for the pistolero
Sombrero – La Gorra de Beisbol – El Casco on motorcycles - El Yelmo in battle
Hanna of Donegal along Dunlin streets.
Alpine Bavarian Tyrolean found in high Swiss German hills
Coppola and Fedora worn along streets of Rome, Chicago and NYC
Ouelhe worn by herders in Bearnese or Gascon
Beret along a Parisian river
the revolutionary Phygian of the working class.
what does the hat say about you
where are you going under that lid
out in the sun’s light to pick lettuce tomatoes melons bending your back sweating your tears filling a sack piece one at a time piece one at a time living for who or whom feet dragging in dust filled grime what music plays in your ears what tempo is kept in your mind
day’s break the cool of dawn egrets travel in flight from the delta’s pond along the Colorado or Rio Grande heralding a struggle in mass
feeding one
feeding all
picking the leavings
grubs and other slugs
fields gleaned
cleaned
piece one hat at a time
rhythm beats on
is there a dance
there is a dance
do we see it all
do we all see
who is your partner
who is holding sway
do you know
footsteps
in what
measure of time
out on the line
out along life’s carefree highway
where amber waves and purple mountains sing
peace
one hat at a time
