Cold coffee in a paper cup
The morning sun is waking up
He walks the line of salt and grit
The early light is barely lit
Count the steps to the empty dock
Watch the hands on the rusted clock
Walk the line where the water glows
Wait for the wind and the way it blows
Greenhouse glass is thin and grey
He starts his work at break of day
Wet soil clinging to his boot
Deep in the earth a stubborn root
The ferry ghost has left the bay
The silver mist is turning grey
He counts the stones along the shore
He counts the steps and then some more
Count the steps to the empty dock
Watch the hands on the rusted clock
Walk the line where the water glows
Wait for the wind and the way it blows
Cold iron rail and a heavy chain
Wash away the summer rain
No one is coming on the tide
Nowhere for a man to hide
He turns his back on the open sea
The garden is where he wants to be
Hedge rows straight and the roses red
The morning hunger needs to be fed
Count the steps to the empty dock
Watch the hands on the rusted clock
Walk the line where the water glows
Wait for the wind and the way it blows
One more step to the garden gate
The coffee's cold and the hour is late
The empty dock
