sand scooped into pail and packed firmly

caring hands that brush away the excess

flipping the pail to reveal a tower

wet hands mold it into shape, smoothing out rough spots

filling in gaps

Popsicle stick draws in detail each brick

as carefully as a mason

building the walls strong and true

hollowing out the windows

but keeping the integrity of the structure in tact.

when that tower is done, begin the next

building as high as I can reach

around a hub of sand graced by the hand

of a granular architect

meticulously agonizing over ever detail

from the open draw bridge across streaming moat

to the stained glass windows where angels play

until a wave washes it all away

I move back a few strides and start again.