The Man who waved at boats
1) How the man cried when he held his first baby
At last he’d a son after waiting so long
But as the boy grew and was slow at his learning,
His parents soon realized something was wrong. 
Dad loved that boy and he’d take him out walking 
Together they’d go down at look at the sea
Little Jim waved as the boats that were passing
And one day said ”Look , someone  waved back at me!” 

Chorus: He waved the boats out and he waved them back home again
Standing alone in his big oilskin coat
Come rain or sun he’d a warm smile for everyone 
Waving and waving at boats

2) Jim went to special school; everyone loved him 
His sticky out ears and his mischievous grin
But try as he might to make sense of his lessons,
The facts and the figures just wouldn’t go in.
He loved to draw boats and he’d say  to his teacher ”I’ll take you sailing Miss when I’m a man.”
She smiled at the thought and then shook her head sadly as the red crayon broke in his big awkward hand.

3) School days soon over, no jobs were on offer, Jim seemed content spending long hours alone,
he would excitedly talk of the people 
he’d seen on the boats when at last he got home
Eager day-trippers and tired commuters,
Each one would get a free smile from Jim,
Most just ignored him, some found it disturbing 
But once in a while someone waved back at him.
4) Years later Jim died with no one to mourn him,
His elderly parents had gone long ago,
The priest gently said as he stood by the coffin,”It’s just you and me Jim,
Let’s on with the show.”
But slowly the chuch filled with hesitant people, Led by the ferry boats captain and crew,
Word had got round of the funny man’s passing 
and pay their respects was the least they could do.

5) After the service they all headed pubwards, there wasn’t much room 
but they somehow squeezed in, 
Friendships were forged, there was flirting and laughter and several toasts raised 
 in honour of Jim.
In a world where we  lose contact so easily,
You move then they move, you’re soon out of touch
Midst the to-ing and fro- ing, arriving and going 
A wave and a warm smile can still mean so much.

© Charlotte Oliver