An Alabama Hat (Poem)

Here is a poem I wrote after meeting a man on the disability shuttle who found, then gave me, "An Alabama Hat." 

An Alabama Hat

While on a long ride home on the disability shuttle,

My friend and I picked up a man from the hospital.

Now there were 3 of us riding home.

We were talking and then,

I heard  our  companion sing that song,

You know the one.

The karaoke champion with the reference to Muscle Shoals, Wallis and Young,

But, it wasn't obvious why that song was on his mind.

We went  here and there like the shuttle does,

and Dropped off my friend.

then it was just  me and the hospital fella.

We started talking about  something or other,

He inquired about my southern accent,

It happens a lot,

Still Alabama thick after all these years.

I thought our conversation was through.

"Hey, here, you should have this," he said.

"Huh?"  I replied, not seeing his hand out or what was in it.  

"It's an Alabama hat," explained the man.

"Here take it," he insisted.

I took the hat with my confused fingers,

Fumbling it a little on the hand off.

"Heck, I have plenty of these," I replied. 

For real, please, Keep the hat, I'm good.

Take it back, I feel you should."

He took it back.

Begrudgingly, I could tell.

Some uncomfortable silence passed.

Then he shared from whence the hat had come.

The Alabama hat was found  on the bus stop bench,

while waiting for the shuttle,

after he was treated at the hospital for a nasty blood infection.  

This coincidence didn't seem that subtle.

So, I took the hat back.

"Hey, I didn't know.

Thanks for the hat." I replied.

"yeah," he muttered,  

He wanted me to have it, it was meant to be.

By a higher power, he seem to justify.

Perhaps he thought the ride was sanctified.

"Things will work out after all," he may have mused.

Because I took his Alabama hat,

Home sweet home with me.

Truly, I won't' wear it.  

it's a bit musty.

Left on a bus stop bench at the hospital after all.

It hangs  in my shed,

A place where it can feel the breeze,

to remind me of my Alabama memories.