2nd Place | “Ships”

2nd Place | May/June 2013 Contest
“Ships”
Martin Robley
Ballajura, Western Australia

Nicotine stains on the bloodshot cowboy
Fumbles for a lucky strike
Out of matches
Out of luck
No place to stay the night

Bargain store smile on the tattooed actress
Chatting up some local guy
Smell of whisky
Smell of fear
Her chance could pass her by

Nocturnal waifs, homeless hard luck stories
Huddle snug in their overcoats
The late-night flunkies
Caffeine junkies
Two bit hacks, all she wrotes

Every face tells a story
Every sigh, every grin
Life passes away
The time of day
Waiting… for their ships to come in

Vietnam vet hides his war wounds within
Struggles for a reason why
Out of answers
Out of work
No tears there left to cry

Fugitive stares out an undressed window
Neon bleeds the pavement red
Tired of running
Tired of life
Too tired to go to bed

Vagabond hearts with twelve o’clock shadows
Checking out the world-weary blonde
She’s picking up tips
Taking no lip
Taking life as it comes

Every face tells a story
Every sigh, every grin
Life passes away
The time of day
Waiting… for their ships to come in

In the Wee Small Hours All Nite Diner
Just the wrong side of the tracks
Refuge for the cold and the lonely
Haven for insomniacs
In the Wee Small Hours All Nite Diner
Lifes’ debris falls through the cracks

Every face tells a story
Every sigh, every grin
Life passes away
The time of day
Waiting… for their ships to come in

Yes every face tells a story
With every sigh, every grin
Life passes away
The time of day
Waiting… for their ships to come in

Click here to see Martin Robley’s American Songspace Profile.