XIII Wayes of Regardinge a Litel Woolen Hatte

Heere ys a newe poeme from todaye. Yt ys inspired by a verye wondirful adaptacioun of a verye wondirful poeme. 

XIII Wayes of Regardinge a Litel Woolen Hatte, a poeme by Galfridus Chaucer

I

Amonge XX busye customes deskes

The onlye thinge nat movinge

Was my litel woolen hatte

II

Ich was of three myndes

Lyke a haberdassheres stalle

On the which do hange III litel woolen hattes

III

My woolen hatte flewe off yn the wynde,

Alack! That hatte was ful wel expensif.

IV

A gentil and a churl

Are one.

A gentil and a churl and a litel woolen hatte

Are one.

V

Ich ne knowe nat which to prefer,

The beautee of sentence

Or the beautee of solaas,

The litel woolen hatte being put on

Or just aftir.

VI

Isekeles did fille the greate wyndow

Wyth glas rough and ungentil.

The shadwe of the woolen hatte

Dyd crosse yt, hider and thider.

The hattes wearer

Traced yn the frost

A vers aboute a kankedort.

VII

O thin men of the Guildhall

Wherfor thynke ye upon golden hattes?

Marken ye nat how the litel woolen hatte

Suited ys ful wel

For a cold daye?

VIII

Ich knowe of noble romaunces

And fayre, delitable vers yn heigh style,

Yet eke wel Ich knowe

That the litel woolen hatte ys woven up

Yn what Ich knowe.

IX

Whanne the litel woolen hatte was loste,

Yt marked the beginninge

Of anothir chidinge by Philippa.

X

At the sighte of litel woolen hattes

On the heades of tale-telling pilgrims

Even John Gower

Wolde crye out sharplye.

XI

He walkid alle arounde London

Yn uncomfortable shoon

Oones, a great thirste took hym

Yn that he mistook

The shadwe of hys woolen hatte

For a barrel of ale.

XII

The river ys movinge

Let nat the hatte falle off of the syde of the ferryboate.

XIII

Yt was Aprille alle afternoon

And ther felle soote shoures

To percen the droghte.

The woolen hatte

Sat upon myn heade.