Early morning, the air contagiously sweet,
Strangely empty street, leaves under my feet
He’s always the first one I see, selling paper boats
Alone on the corner, keeps an ear out for me
I’m sure he knows my footsteps from far away
Turns his head, smiles roughly my way and says,
Have you found me a river at all, my lovely?
I need a home for them all, and it’s most likely
You’re the one to come and set them free.
I stop to chat, say, You bet, there’s a river lined with trees,
Smooth sailing, unfailing, soon to leave…
He pretends not to doubt it, craves to believe
Pictures water under his paper boats, waves
Weeping willows along the banks, morning haze
I say, Ok gotta go, running late, wish I could stay
He turns away disappointed, eyes blank
Unseeing, doesn’t know what colour shoes I’ve got on today
Says, Tomorrow, here again? You keep my boredom at bay
You promised to run rivers for them, but no fear
I’ll stay and wait with my boats, anchored, right here
Known you for so long, you don’t belong, you were
Lonely then, lonely now, frightened little girl
Treading water, I’ve never had a daughter, funny how
You’ve never known your father, so maybe now…
But I say, ok, nice try, you never give up, do you
Known you all my life, too, can see right through you
Sorry only coins today, all I have till pay day but for now
Gotta run, so late, keep warm somehow…
You and me, almost family, all this time tied up here
Never see me laughing before you, never see me after, in tears
For years crying, trying to save your boats, set them afloat
A sail under sunlight that ripples and quivers
But my world has no rivers
My world has no rivers