by Bradley Patterson

Created on: August 08, 2008

Tessa McGuire

Down at the docks, in the middle of the night
A little old lady stands, with a bag in her hand
She stares at the boats in the water, and gives a heavy sigh
She's waiting for a man she hasn't seen in a very long time

Out on the water, lights dance like drunkards in the night
They flitter back and forth on the ebb of the tide
No control, no rhythm, just chaotic lefts and rights

The moon rides high in the midnight sky

Through horn-rimmed glasses, she watches the scene and cries
As the tears fill her eyes she hears the notes begin to play
As time goes by' echoes through the empty halls of her mind
As she fondles the parcel in her bag she bought specially for tonight

The hours pass slowly

A horn in the distance brings another tanker from the other side
Just another vessel coming home from the world outside
Her hand in the bag holds onto the parcel tight
Her finger on the trigger she squeezes the handle tight

Tessa McGuire stares at the silhouette on the sea and gives a little whimper
She'd come so far so many times but this time may be the last
She nestles the metal to her breast as tries to wrestle memories from her mind
No matter how she tries she cannot seem to find anything to hold on to

The minutes come too quickly

A flash in the dark
And a ring in the air
A thud on the floor
Drowned out by the harbour sounds

For so long she had fought to regain her smile
But the more she tried it eluded her still
Taunting her from the shadows in her heart
Wining his name in the dark

The man never came, he never would and she knew it too well
He had died many years before in New York City
He had called her just an hour before, laughing
Saying I love you and I'll see you at the dock on Friday

Learn more about this author, Bradley Patterson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.