Which Hat Shall I Wear

Which hat shall I wear, the red one or blue one?

Which hat shall I wear to the PTA?

The red hat’s becoming; the blue one’s a new one

Mary, come here. Tell me which do you say?

This afternoon’s meeting of our PTA

Is certain to be well attended

For we are protesting the ruling today

Of the way separate schools will be ended

Now Mary, you’ve worked for me over a year

By now you must certainly know

That I’m very fond of your people, my dear

And I don’t mind telling you so

I think it’s a pity my Jimmy can’t be

In school with his darker skinned brothers

With school integration I fully agree

And so do the rest of the mothers

But my little Jimmy is really too small

To ride to your school on a bus

And frankly, your people aren’t helping at all

Oh, why must there be such a fuss!

Oh dear, I must hurry and be on my way

There’s never a time for relaxing

Mary, the windows need washing today

And the hall and the foyer need waxing

I’ve left some dresses piled up on a chair

The cleaner is coming at two

Don’t let him take the green silk with a tear

That one, my dear, is for you