The Captain Has His Orders

The Captain has his orders
and in the suburbs tonight
he reads to his children
all dark-eyed
by the dim lamplight
head full of autumn, yellow streetlight
radio voices, floorboards creak
and faraway dogs in the night

The Captain has his orders, my love
afternoons in the launderette
misty window visions
while the rooftops get wet
in a grey Wednesday rain
a lovesong writ
on a pack of cigarettes

Well known to the rooks
that haunt the high trees
behind the row of shops
tonight the rain-filled alley awaits
the cat cocks his ear and stops
the mouse escapes - away, away
the hunter left hungry
the hunted to tremble
for one more day

The Captain learned his love for you
with a heart as dry as a January lawn
watching the headlights stalk the ceiling
on the nights when you were gone