NIGEL SANDERS

I've smoked my last cigarette
I started way too young
Had my first at the age of twelve
Flakes of tobacco left on my tongue
...

I STARTED FISHING AS A SCHOOLBOY, LIKE MY FATHER AND HIS, BEFORE
ON A TWENTYFOUR FOOT, ONE MAST COBLE, WE USE TO FISH INSHORE
THE SEA IS IN MY BLOOD, SALTWATER FLOWS THROUGH MY VEINS
WEATHER BEATEN SKIN LIKE LEATHER, WITH MULTICOLOURED STAINS
...

I'M TRAVELING HOME, I'M TRAVELING LIGHT
GOING TO GET BACK, IF IT TAKES ALL NIGHT
I'M SO HAPPY I COULD SING OUT LOUD
COS THE WOMAN I LOVE HAS DONE ME PROUD
...

Some people call me laughing boy
Some say that I'm a clown
Until you've walked in my shoes
Please don't put me down
...

The ash tray holds the ashes
From his smoked out cigarettes
With each new passing day
He's filled with more regrets
...

THE MANDOLIN HANGS ON THE WALL
A ‘FOR SALE' SIGN THREAD BETWEEN THE STRINGS
JUST COLLECTING DUST IT SEEMS
FORGOTTON ARE THE SOUNDS IT BRINGS
...

It was a Saturday when I first met you
I guess you'd call it fate
I was waiting for a friend
But he was running late
...

YOU DUMPED ME JUST SEVEN DAYS AGO
A WEEK THAT SEEMED LIKE YEARS
AS YOU WERE DEAF TO ALL MY PLEAS
AND LAUGHED AT ALL MY TEARS.
...

AS DAWN CREEPS ACROSS THE HORIZON
THE DARK OF NIGHT SURRENDERS TO A NEW DAY
COLOURS REAPPEAR FROM THEIR HIBERNATION
AS IF TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE SUNS FIRST RAY
...

Her silky hair was blowing wild
From a gentle summer breeze
She was always here with me
Love came to us with ease
...

How come thoughts of you
Continue to fill my head
How come with each passing day
I recall all the things you've said?
...

I have often wondered
How do we keep going
As we try to hide
The pain we know that's showing
...

She used to give me kisses
Each and every day
Then things started changing
And her kisses went away
...