Riverbed 1

I take my orders from the street lights, wind at my shoulder<br>The afternoon is grey and the air is getting colder<br>I`m old fashioned and on foot, passionate and fascinated<br>Wide eyed awake and ready for anything<br>Navigating side walks, dry docks and back alleys<br>Always in and out of elevators and hallways<br>I`m out for a walk and following the human currents<br>I`m in no hurry, I need no reassurance<br>Curfews and perfumes, excuses and costumes<br>Customs, corrections, fuss or directions<br>Even the leaves have taken on lives<br>Deprived of their privacy, purpose and property<br>Probably runaways, they play catch<br>With stray cats that stay at the girl`s school<br>The city`s a whirlpool<br>There`s too much going on, there`s too much garbage<br>Too much to choose from, too much carnage<br>There`s not enough quiet to think straight, it`s not a stunt<br>Maybe I will make my way back to the waterfront<br>This is where the people are slightly unsavoury<br>With no time, possessions, labor or slavery<br>Neighbors without names neglected and hip-checked<br>Stripped down to nothing, fallen and ship wrecked<br>Completely uncalled for, way out of line<br>Stranded, branded, weathered and abandoned<br>These are counter clock wise<br>The despised with swollen noses and tears in their eyes<br>And tears in their clothes and time on their hands, they sleep walk<br>Full of that cheap wine and cheap talk<br>Everything gets washed away at the pier<br>The best you can do is play it by ear<br>Wishes sink to the bottom and doubts float<br>I`m afraid of the water and I live in this houseboat