We had spoken before about deceiving each other
But I was deceiving you in a very subtle way
You thought that you were in Reykjavík
Whereas behind the shutters was Lisbon
I wanted this to please you
But thought that you might be offended
So we stayed in our room until
You felt safe to face the world again
As we rode on a beach tram
You said how pleased you were with my deceit
As you had never stayed in a white city before
You had visited pink cities and lilac towns
Black villages red green and blue
But nothing as pale as Lisbon White
I promised to take you travelling again
So that we might visit the islands
That sit quietly in the lime streams
Of the deep southern seas