by Terry Ann Williams-Richard
***In Honor of Women’s History Month***
She struts through life with a magnitude of cares and with sometimes what seems like on her shoulders the weight of the world,
Still on her hip on any given Sunday, day, season or year, she carries a baby boy or baby girl.
Loving, laughing, living, with joy in her heart and a smile on her face,
She makes a difference in the lives of children and families she is all over the place.
She wears the hats.
You know her, she’s your Momma, Grandmama, Great-Grandmama, Auntie, Cousin, Sister, Niece, Daughter or she’s you,
Style, grace, mercy, peace, gratitude, and attitude as colorful as the rainbow, leaders in your ride or die crew.
Queen, princess, royalty, God’s daughter, ruling, making her home, community, and the world her domain,
With her in your corner, you can be assured unconditional love you will gain.
She wears the hats.
Throughout history she wears a helmet or beret while fighting for our freedom
Like Harriet Tubman, Angela Davis, Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chism, Maxine Waters, Kamala Harris.
She wears a fascinator, pill box, or wide brim at Tea Time or on the World Stage like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou.
She wears veils, feathers, sequins whether she’s on Broadway, at the Apollo, TV, or the Big Screen
Like Josephine Baker, Angela Basset, Ruby Dee, Viola Davis, Hattie McDaniel
She may wear skull caps, head wraps, personal crowns as the blood of royalty runs through her veins
Like the African Queen Nzhinga or as she bravely battles sickness and disease.
She wears the hats.
Look in the mirror, palm it, place it on your head, brim to the front, slight tilt to the side,
Say to yourself, “I look good!”, turn to your Sister and say “You look good!,” beauty and pride.
You have one for every occasion, event, day, just because, coordinated
with each outfit,
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, the seasons, a variety of styles, sizes, colors, you name it.
She wears the hats.
Headgear, cap, chapeau, bonnet, fedora, beret, sombrero, headpiece, visor, turban, tiara, cover or crown,
Sunrise, sundown, rain, sleet, snow, sunshine, temperatures rising, below zero all around the town.
Living a golden life, wearing many hats, serving in various roles, the world is her stage, even with highs and lows
Masquerade, real life, up close and personal, all ages, across generations, she shines and she glows.
She wears the hats.
You wear the hats.
Copyright by Terry Ann Williams-Richard February 2020
