Sandcastles
For those of us who are not asleep
I built a castle made of sand
Along the seaside shore.
Each slab and turret made by hand,
Each window and each door.
I dug a moat along the sides
And let the sea pour in.
Portcullis doors of sticks would hide
The royal court within.
But then I saw something not there;
Yes, something was unseen.
So Sand People were made to share
The land and sky between.
But the people looked so lost,
Yes, it was guidance that they needed.
So 'neath god and banner crossed
They loved and worshiped me, and heeded.
With a smile, down I laid
And looked upon my nation,
But I guessed their loneliness and made
Additional creations.
I made a second castle,
Second people, second land,
But their minds and hearts were facile
And they did not understand.
With sandy fists and toothpick swords
They marched upon their brothers,
Though their differences were in their words
And not with one another.
But still they waged their futile war
Singularly because
They saw the surface, not the core.
Like everybody does.
I walked away and let them fight;
I knew I had failed then.
The tide came in during the night.
Soldiers were sand again.
Half of my people were my friends,
Half of them were not.
But it didn’t matter in the end,
Near those castles time forgot.
(2014)
