Sandcastles

some days i long to take
a bucket and spade to
Bembridge beach to build
castles with my brother
in dampened sand

magnificent with turrets
crenellated walls, tall towers
always with a drawbridge
surrounded by a deep moat

when the only company was
an odd wasp or two competing
for jam in our sandwiches
or the sun's rays freckling
my fair skin, burning my
exposed shoulders

i didn't mind the creep
of the incoming tide as we
watched it send fingers of foam
closer and closer

until eventually our
masterpieces of medieval fantasy
collapsed into a sunken mess
under swirling salty water
forever gone

Reviews

[Stella Armour]

How lucky you were to have siblings Chris, i was very bored when i was young and quickly had to learn to amuse myself.
In the long run i think it gave me an inner strength but i would have so loved to have siblings to share my life.
Love the imagery of your sandcastles and the tide coming in to claim them, memories to last a lifetime..

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stella. I was very fortunate having siblings and parents who understood how those bonds later on in life with siblings grow from strength to strength. Have a lovely weekend my friend.

Chris

[Legion]

Very visual here. I could actually imagine in my mind the image you sculpted out words much like the castles sculpted out of sand or regret carved out of the advancement of time. Kudos on this.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Legion for your visit and encouraging review.

Chris

[John Cardwell]

What a beautiful day! Delightful poem, wonderful images. Very natural feel to the alliteration.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous John for a second visit today. Pleased you enjoyed one of my favourite childhood memories. Happy to share it. All good wishes.

Chris

[Laz K.]

"Straw into gold" - this is the work of poets. Namely, to elevate everyday experiences to a level where they take on added meaning and significance. A sandcastle dissolving, being gently crushed by "fingers of foam" encapsulates life itself. ("Fingers of foam"...great, great metaphor!)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Laz for your appreciation. Most welcome and valued.

Chris

[Adam Adams]

Right. It's time that slips off one's life; like the sand dusts off ones's fingers... kinda memorable and heart-touching piece of words here. Memories are special - and we must hold 'em saved upon heart for life. Good deal.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Adams. Pleased to share a precious memory with you. All the best.

Chris

[Dante]

I get more in the sense of symbolism than just the emotion of memory having to do with times gone by. How over time, we do great things, with great people, and those things get washed away in memory. Gone but not forgotten.

[Chris Shaw]

Really appreciate your visit Dante. Thank you for your thoughts. All the best.

Chris

[.]

Your masterpiece of medieval fantasy may be a jovial thinking now but on those delicate days they were as precious as diamonds .. Isn't it... Ahh those beautiful, golden days, how can one forget, if only we could revisit those days once again! You wrote a very touchy piece of love on childhood memory and sibling bliss... I adore it so much

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Sima. It is a special memory of mine, so I was pleased to put it on paper. Always appreciate your visits and your kind thoughts dear poet. I had such fun with my siblings, but especially with my brother who was exactly one year younger than me and far more adventurous :)

Chris

[.]

Yes, I can understand sibling bliss and those cherished memories, as I have a brother and he is my best friend, though now living miles apart. .. Now we both cherish those cute sibling rivalry on petty things reminiscing those good old days..

[Rick Puetter]

Beautiful. You paint wonderful pictures of heartfelt memories (I assume they are real memories). Wonderful work. High marks.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Rick. My first love was painting, long before poetry came my way.Yes, real memories and treasured they are as I no longer have my brother on this plane. Really pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[Rick Puetter]

Sorry you lost you brother. Yes, I very muted enjoyed the read.

Rick

[Miss Sharon]

You brought back happy memories of my own childhood. My parents managed a hotel right on the beach and I was privy to all all sorts of sand castle adventures. ~Sharon

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Sharon. Pleased to be able to bring some memories back to you. Lucky you having parents with a hotel right on the beach front. That must have been wonderful.

Chris

[Kelly Scheppers]

Oh Chris, you really need to present this to your brother, matted within a frame. It reads beautifully and is simply magical in the syntax you've created.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Kelly thank you for such a beautiful review. Sadly my brother no longer with us, but he has three sons and I am sure that they would like to know what their dad got up to when he was young. Keep safe and well.

Chris

[Kelly Scheppers]

I am so sorry.