A salt wind blows in from the north, she can almost feel the sprayAnd the waves are pounding anything that might get in their wayThere are no secrets on this island, from the church down to the coveShe has sweetbreads waiting for him, she has coffee on the stoveShe walks back from the mailbox, pushes in the kitchen doorThe snow and wind follow her aim like they still want something moreShe hides the mail in a cupboard, turns on the clock radioShe wants to rush but there is no need, there's too much time to goShe spends an hour in the shower, she puts on her favorite dressShe fixes her hair and makeup until her age becomes a guessShe stops by twice a week for her, stays a while and then he goesShe can't expect more than that, not when the whole island knowsAnd when she sees his wife downtown, she knows her eyes will never meetShe buys her groceries without a word and does not linger on the streetShe speaks to no one now, her intentions plainly knownShe'd rather be damned for eternity than spend one more week aloneThe wind howls across the yard, the bedroom's cold and dryHe twirls a long hat around his finger before he says goodbyeShe wraps his scarf around his neck, slips a wool hat on his headAs he closes the door behind him, she gets up and strips the bedShe is hiding out the laundry as she hopes it does not freezeTwo bedsheets dance around her in the angry winter breezeNow the sheets wave up to the sky like giant flags of truceAs the winter wind keeps blowing in, she prays nothing pulls looseThe wind howls across the yard, the bedroom's cold and dryHe twirls a long hat around his finger before he says goodbyeShe wraps her scarf around his neck, slips a wool hat on his headAs he closes the door behind him, she gets up and strips the bedShe is hiding out the laundry as she hopes it does not freeze