Ticket tap at the pier, paper cups of iced tea You point at the river and nudge my sleeve I fumble the straw, a splash tags my shirt You burst into laughter, I join, alert Ferry hum, metal seats, afternoon breeze You tuck my collar and pat it dry for me You said: No big deal I said: Hold still, come here We grin until the moment turns sweet That ferry laugh, we lost the plot You pulled me close, my tea ran down You straightened my sleeve, I warmed your hands Then and there we learned our easy plan That ferry laugh, that softer hold We kept each other through the roll Plastic bags on my wrist, basil and rice You carried the heaviest one without a sigh A dog eyed our skewers, the ferry jerked We bumped into each other and both checked: You okay? You dabbed my cheek with a napkin edge I looped your arm and we leaned the same way You said: You first, slow down I said: I've got you, stay near We count to three and find our beat That ferry laugh, we lost the plot You pulled me close, my tea ran down You straightened my sleeve, I warmed your hands Then and there we learned our easy plan That ferry laugh, that softer hold We kept each other through the roll When days run long, we replay that scene A spill on a shirt turns tender and clean If one of us slips, the other one stays Arms first, words later, we steady the day That ferry laugh, we lost the plot You pulled me close, my tea ran down You straightened my sleeve, I warmed your hands Then and there we learned our easy plan That ferry laugh, that softer hold We kept each other through the roll Ferry docks, hands linked We keep that laugh with us That ferry laugh, we lost the plot You pulled me close, my tea ran down You straightened my sleeve, I warmed your hands Then and there we learned our easy plan That ferry laugh, that softer hold We kept each other through the roll