A Redheaded Woman, a Poem

Lord, when I'm at sea
Give the west wind to me
And a bright shinning star to lay course by
Give me far places
And strangers' bright faces
And soft foreign beds for to lie
Give me strong wine exotic
And ladies erotic
Twin sins bred to set a poor sailor right
And give me the ocean
And some fool-headed notion
And a redhead woman, to take me through the night

Lord, when I'm at college
Let me pass by the knowledge
On my way to a pub, and a dance
And give me boys playing cards
And some romance in shards
And nights when my life is in chance
Find me cool, find me hip
Keep me safe on road-trips
Let the professors' red pens take their bite
Give me smoke and some drink
And some deep thoughts to think
And a redhead girl, to take me through the night

Lord, when I get a job
Find my path through the mob
And let me be not chained to a chair
Give me no boss-man shirty
Let it be a boss-woman, and make her flirty
And help me make craft of my wares
And if I must wear a suit
Let me look like a hoot
And make sure that my ties are tied right
Give me a home and a wife
And a simple pleasant life
With a redhead woman, to take me through the night

Lord, when I am old
Give me long horded gold
Or at least a few pennies I've come by
Give me a small piece of land
On which I can stand
And no wish to ask you questions why
And give me afternoons under a tree
And football on tv
And a feeling it all worked out right
And if I must die
Give me one more bed to try
With a redheaded woman, to take me through the night

Jeffrey Weeks, Dec 2009

For more of Jeffrey's writing see his blog A Dash Of Salty