Envelope soaked clear through to bone
Ink bleeds blue on pulp and groan
Boots slap planks in rhythmic drone
River breathes a misty moan
Letter shakes in cold fingers
Count each footfall past the span
Water rises cold and wan
Letter weighs in trembling hand
Hope still burns in sodden land
Hope still burns in sodden land
Coffee steam curls through the night
Regulars laugh at dying light
Fryer pops a greasy bite
You read words in flash of white
Page flutters in your fist tight
Count each footfall past the span
Water rises cold and wan
Letter weighs in trembling hand
Hope still burns in sodden land
Hope still burns in sodden land
Stamp canceled out by weather's fist
Address blurred to gray and mist
Each step echoes off the list
Of names you swore you'd not forget
Boots keep time on wooden deck
Count each footfall past the span
Water rises cold and wan
Letter weighs in trembling hand
Hope still burns in sodden land
Hope still burns in sodden land
Pie cooling on the wire rack
Bell rings sharp for orders back
You fold the page you fold the sack
Footsteps fade on wooden track
Morning pulls the river slack
Fiddle cries a reel so wild
Dancer's heels on floorboards piled
Heart beats fast like storm-tossed child
Bridge holds firm though waters riled
Gang vocals rise reconciled
Morning breaks the river's seam
Letter delivered not a dream
Footsteps counted lost the steam
You wipe the grill and pour the cream
Day unwinds from night's dark seam
Count each footfall past the span
Water rises cold and wan
Letter weighs in trembling hand
Hope still burns in sodden land
Hope still burns in sodden land
Hope still burns in sodden land
Rain stops grill sings day begins