You say "well met again, Lock-keeper"

We're late and even deeper than the time before

Oriental oils and tea brought down from Singapore

As we wait for my lock to cycle, I see my wife has given me a son

"A son!?" you cried, "is that all that you've done?"

She wears Bougainvillaea blossom

You pluck 'em from her hair and toss them in the tide

Sweep her in your arms and carry her inside

Her size catch on your shoulder

Her moonlit eyes grow bold and wiser through hеr tears

And I say to you: "how could you leave hеr for the year?"

"So, come with me!" you cried

"To where the southern cross rides high upon your shoulder."

"Come with me!" you cried

"Each day you tend this lot, you're one day older"

While your blood grows colder

But that anchor chains of fetter

And with it you are tethered to the foam

And I would not trade your life for one hour of home

Sure, I'm stuck here on the sea-way

While you compensate for leeway through the trades

And you shoot the stars to see the miles you've made

And you laugh at the heart shiv riven

But which of these has given us more love or life

You; your tropic mate's or me; my wife?

"So, come with me!" you cried

"To where the southern cross rides high upon your shoulder."

"Come with me!" you cried

"Each day you tend this lot, you're one day older"

While your blood grows colder

But that anchor chains of fetter

And with it you are tethered to the foam

And I would not trade your life for one hour of home