All My Life

Down on the wooden dock,
The white rim of her summer dress waves in circles,
And the brown curls don't reveal a thing,
He wishes it was better,
But the gulls and she will never know,

At the county fundraiser,
He's taking coats while she watches the nursery,
They never get anything done,
And he wishes it was better,
And he hands back their coats,

The end of the year dance sees,
The red rim of her formal dress waves in circles,
With nothing in his eyes he walks away,
The black chords of her eyelashes,
Never noticing,

And he thinks about the war and his brother,
And he wishes things were better from the top,
Of a sunset covered bulldozer,

He's floating along,
Through friend's houses and families,
And he wishes they would stay together,
But they and the unopened table wine will never know,

So he takes up his green knapsack,
With some food and a picture,
And she is fast asleep,
And he wishes things were better,
As the powerlines fade behind.