LOOPS is Toni's THIRD volume of poetry.
Loops
A man I didn’t recognize stopped me on the street.
“Excuse me,” he said. “You’re wearing my hat.” Since
I wasn’t wearing a hat, his remark struck me as odd,
but I played along. “That’s impossible,” I said, “I’ve had
this hat for years.” “I can understand why you’d say
that,” he said, “but that doesn’t alter the facts.” “I would
never wear someone else’s hat,” I said, “It would be like
wearing someone else’s, I don’t know, someone else’s
socks.” “You needn’t be vulgar,” he said. “I’m sorry you
feel that way,” I said. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Keep the hat if it means that much to you,” he said. “It
looks better on you anyway.”