River's wrinkles

The dawn’s just broken through and brought colour to your face

Instead of thinking of the sunset, why don’t you enjoy the day?

Because you’re thinking of the river, how the ripples make it wrinkle

Like that smile that I love, but see so rarely these days

 

Your mother never taught you how to braid your hair

So we’re sitting in the garden, with my hands tangled in it

I tell you that it looks like the bark of the willow

You say - soon it’ll look like the ashes in the ashtray

 

We are sitting by the pond, in the park where our kids play

I say our daughter will grow up to look like you some day 

You turn your head away and then you give me a sad smile

You tell me you’ll grow old, not look like you in time

 

And in the evenings you come say - this is all life is

And every spot of light will always dim and die

I tell you that the night is just as beautiful as day

But you seem a little sad - you don’t believe in what I say

 

At night I hear you cry and hold you like a tidal wave

You’re scared that from you only foam will remain

I point to you the stars, each one I can see from here

And tell you that your eyes will always shine like them to me

 

I tell you in old age you will keep your mother’s face

And with the time your hair will turn as silver sage

And every single wrinkle that your smile brings

Will remind me of the beauty of the river’s ripples