Skates

when i was younger,
a part-time job worker,
department store center,
i saw a man enter.
he was middle-aged
with deep lines on his face,
tight mouth and eyes glazed,
eyelids just half-raised.

(chorus):
and i looked at him
he looked at me
he looked so sad, i had to see
what did he want? what could it be?
what had he been through before me
seeing him in the store
i worked for
that year.

ice skates, he asked for,
the middle of summer.
he wanted a good pair,
the price he did not care.
i looked for his size,
our best pair he tried,
custom back and sides.
excitement in his eyes.

(chorus)

i asked, are you a pro?
he looked sad and said 'no.'
'these skates my last hope.
without them i cannot cope.'
and he said, 'my wife, she drowned this summer
behind our house, the river took her
i cannot swim, i need to find her, i will wait
till it freezes over, and then i will skate
as far as it takes.
i will skate, as far as it takes
to bring her back home.'

(chorus)