Making sand castles.

SAND CASTLES BY FORREST MILLER 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 19

Being this age in this age

is making sand castles

in front of an approaching tide.

We see the driftwood. We dig for sand dollars

and pretty shells. We write our names.

We inspect with curiosity

the hollowed-out crab shells

and seagull carcasses.

Gleefully, we try to outrun the waves;

we still get wet. Then the sea comes

and washes it all away, grinding down

the bones, the shells, the names.

When we have gone, the sea rolls back out

leaving nothing but empty horizon, clean sand,

and the echo of waves.