The Hat I Left Behind

There once was a hat that I left behind
sweating on the seat of the bus,
fanning herself on the benches at church,
chatting at a table over coffee.

I bustled away to work,
I bowed my head like a vessel of God,
I bristled at the conversation,

But I left her,
full to the brim,
like I had so many other
important places to be.