Mad Hatter

I collected crowds.

Pinned with hatpins

to observe close-up

–surfers, bikers, stoners,

academics &

athletes of all kind–

I pegged myself, too,

(such a square, I needed circles)

Sporting

wetsuits

‘til they dampened

leather & chains

–worn to distance myself

from pipes that burned–

to quills clipped to locks

and lowest high corner.

I’d switch, then, to

tweedles

less dum

& turtlenecks

(too)

–good for earnestly peering at things

with telescoped neck

an injury-free connection

on account of those

unpinned helmets I also wore.

Now, I dunno–

I’ve considered Maid Marianne’s,

and thought about headdresses

(forsaking skullies long since)

–maybe I’ll just go

hatless, now.

Absorb vitamin K

for a while.