Inside the ancient country church
With Norman tower and noble tomb,
The wedding service passed me by,
I hardly noticed bride or groom.
What captivated me were hats,
A fashion feast before my eyes,
Row on row of elegance,
Each one worthy of a prize.
Picture-hats in rainbow colors,
Voluptuous, festive, rich with trim,
Ribboned, flowered, feathered, fringed,
I marvelled as I sang a hymn.
So hat-distracted was I that
The words “I do” I did not hear,
The wedding service was a blur,
Only the millinery was clear.
Like Wordsworth, who in pensive mood,
Saw golden daffodils in bloom,
I see those hats that graced the church
With Norman tower and noble tomb.
– Brenda M Corr
