Skates

Department store centre I saw a man enter

He was middle-aged deep lines on his face

Tight mouth and eyes glazed

Eyelids just half-raised

And I looked at him he looked at me

He looked so sad I had to see

What did he want what could it be

What had he been through before me seeing him

In the store I worked for that year that year

Ice skates he asked for In the middle of summer

He wanted a good pair the price he did not care

I looked for his size our best pair he tried

Costom back and sides excitement in his eyes

I asked are you a pro he looked sad and said no

These skates are my last hope

Without them I cannot cope

And he said my wife she drowned this summer

Behind our house the river took her

I cannot swim I need to find her

I will wait till it freezes over

And then I will skate as far as it takes

I will skate as far as it takes to bring her back home

To bring her back home to bring her back home

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