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

[barleygirl]

This is one of your best poems that I've read! You take the reader on a delightful journey filled with precious unexpected details. You are a top-notch storyteller in poetry, but this one surpasses most of your others, how you present a balanced story that reveals a ton of extra, unspoken backstory thru your brilliant choice of details. Also, packed with affection. This is a classic epic! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Aw Margie, you caught me blushing. Couldn't ask for a finer review. So pleased you enjoyed this one. Hugs back at you ((.))

Chris

[Dave Brown]

reminds me of the sandcastle competitions we used to get involved in, but it was a ton of work which had to be done in a specified time limit
lotsa family fun

[Chris Shaw]

It was lots of fun. Happy carefree days Dave to reflect on. Thank you muchly and have a good Thursday.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

&U2 :)

[Ana Papaya]

Sand castles become memories that last, even when they don't
Took me back... thank you for that :)

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to take you back to creative play in the sand Ana. Hope you and your kids are doing ok. Keep safe

Chris

[Ana Papaya]

So far so good, Chris. Hope you're doing well too!

[Chris Shaw]

All OK here Ana, thanks:)

[Robert Trakofler]

this made a lovely painting in my minds eye Chris:) oh how I freckled and burned too LOL I haven't thought about making sandcastles in a very long time did you used to watch the tide come up on your castle to fill the moat too before the inevitable castle collapse? I remember i use to dig gullies to direct the tidewater into the moat

[Chris Shaw]

Yes Bunny, we dug gullies too :) Don't us fair skinned people suffer in the sun:) Can't recall suncream back then.

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to take you back to the beach. Thank you for your lovely review.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

I bet you two were master castlemakers:)

[Chris Shaw]

We tried our best. He was the driving force, I chipped in :)

[Einstein Noodle]

wistful and delightful setting, scene and imaging ...such a private memory with a brother .. moves my heart ... and its true ... even as children ..we built sand castles knowing they would dissolve with the tide .. only to be appreciated later in life when a lot of those best things are gone .. like loved ones .. beautiful as always Christine ..move me
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, you picked up on my brother's passing. This setting is such a happy memory for me and my muse gifted it to me when I was on a right downer. I built those sandcastles all over again in my head. I am still looking for a four leaf clover by the way :)) Thanking you as ever for your looked forward too visits.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha i went to a local restuarant where Norma buys fresh pizza dough and as i was outside waiting i noticed a patch of clover and thought of you ... but .. no luck ... you are going to find one aren't you?! :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Chris Shaw]

I have found them before and by golly I am going to find another one for you :)

[Einstein Noodle]

:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))) top o' the mahrnin' to ya lass

[Chris Shaw]

And to you too Mr E :))

[Wild Rose]

My sand castles never got much further than a heap of patted sand.
Nothing like the sound of your Royal Residence

We still watched the fingers of tide creep in across the sand
Deeper; further round the structure until it was gone - returned to the mass from whence it came

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Wild Rose. We took our sandcastles seriously. Without turrets and towers, it was just a mound :) A happy memory for me. Keep safe and well the pair of you

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes, we were blessed to spend two weeks every Summer in a rented house
on the Atlantic Coast in Maryland. We could walk to the shore where the waves
tickled your toes, and build sandcastles. My Dad would float on the water, but never drown.
We cousins would be brown as berries and sleep like cherries in whipped cream dreams.
My daughter and her family have moved to Virginia Beach and live close to the Ocean.
My son and his family prefer to hike in the mountains of Utah, but they still have time to enjoy the
Ocean waves and Seagulls. Lovely poetry. tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

How wonderful your Maryland holidays were Pat with so many happy memories. I was delighted you shared them with me.

brown as berries and sleep like cherries in whipped cream dreams.

That is so poetic Pat. I will always remember that line. Thank you so much. Your visits always leave me with a satisfied smile on my face :)

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A nostalgic piece of free verse to which many young people could not relate because such things seem to elude modern children. I can see it now on the West coast of Scotland or on Blackpool beach with my brother. Nicely visual.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous John. Sadly too many spend their time on their tablets indoors. They don't know what they are missing :)

Chris