Waiting on quay for ships to come in
Pale complexion, fur collar, heels freezin’
Ropes and bollards on cobblestones
Hands on deck lowered, warming bones.

A naval base, old railings rusted
Marine clientele, rarely trusted
Diesel stains in rainbow pools
Bus load of idiots, but ship of fools.

Dead lilac branches, fences pushing
November verges, mossy cushion
Sugar silos, long since closed
Shifty ankles, Italian stilettos

Working men’s clubs on the dock road
Deckhands galore, lash up and stowed
Officer material from PSNC
Inclement weather, aboard QEII three.

(Chorus)
Russian girls on docks, provocative, pert
Doc Martens, short socks, rara skirts
Trawling docks, craned necks, teasing
Sea mist, cigarette stub, winter season.

Mann Island, Pier Head, treasure troves.
Seamen’s mission, removing clothes
Before the invention of HIV
Not fishnet weather, railings icy.

Tramlines 1960, last saw weeding
Holding bench, on knees bleeding
Circular route, bus number 27
Rise income, from job unleavened.

Soliciting work, from sailor de-frockers
No passport required for gonococcus
African grey, inside Baltic Fleet, Wapping
Paying for rent, so no chance of stopping.

Flagged down by the Titanic, White Star
Pulled up to the bumper, devochka Lara
Curtain raiser skirts, crepe de chine
Exposed flesh, where a curve had been.

Russian girls on docks, provocative, pert

Hard granite surface, grazing glutes
Katerina’s sterling work, forbidden fruits
North wind breeze, on Waterloo Road
Ship’s crew member, sucked and blowed.

Cheap export stout upon the breath
Antifreeze, rush and crystal meth
Went through the crew and took the pick
Dangled the carrot, ended up with stick.

Cleared by authorities, certified no STD
Working the streets, minus 3 degrees C
Relieving wallets left empty, so free men
Gang-plank base of discharged seamen.

Police and thieves, but no Joe strumming
Coitus interrupters, so second coming
Multiple arrests and then let go
Lara and Katerina, ex-domicile, Moscow.

Russian girls on docks, provocative, pert

Seafarer anchored in Huskisson Dock
Keys to open Manchester ship canal’s lock
Boatswain’s mate and ship’s cook, Kev
Busy posting French letters to Brezhnev.

Miss taken robe, behind bathroom door
Returning to Sheil Road, not Liverpool 4
Circumnavigating globes, not herpes sored
An education, but joint ejaculation bored.

Programmed to lash, then stow in the hold
Whip into shape, a spliced Turk’s head bold
Bit off more than could chew, ruble charger
Ankle chained to gates of L3 Crowne Plaza.

Dasvidanya wave, a spider’s web funnel
Outside the dock exit of Mersey tunnel
Smoking, yes, but no drugs, so no pusher
Docked wages, by two girls from Russia.

Russian girls on docks, provocative, pert