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

[duff]

Wow. You put the reader on site. The layers and textures are everywhere. Salty toes. Amazing writing.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks duff for checking this one out. Your thoughts appreciated.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Cute poem about sandcastles and making them. It was cute

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you JungLee. Appreciate your thoughts.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Thank you. Please check my newest post

[emmajoy]

This is a touching and graphic post, Chris, tells of such idyllic times, bucketing up, turning out
the sand as the sun kisses your skin. Happy literally as 'sand boys', creating a world of your own, safe, moated and all. If only that could be done, life long.. but just as the rug can be pulled from under us adults, the sea can wash away magic, leaving only.. memories. Few could write is as you have however: fragile clarity

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Em. The sea washing the sandcastles away taught us lessons. Life long lessons. Many thank yous for checking in.

Chris

[emmajoy]

Sadly, life does that and it hurts like .. (Chris)

[Poetic Beauty]

A day spent at the beach in youthful years building sandcastles sounds like an amazing memory

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you PB. Many happy memories with my brother. Thank you for checking in.

Chrisread moreThank you PB. Many happy memories with my brother. Thank you for checking in.

Chris

[pearl]

The imagery is really vivid! This piece makes me think of my childhood. This is really beautiful!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you pearl. Pleased I took you on a journey. All good wishes.

Chris

[Vertigo Cat1111]

Your description made me really picture the beach and now I miss going! Or maybe I just miss making jam sandwiches. Hmmm... either way, it’s a very beautiful carefree and light poem, and then there’s that hint of bitter sweetness when you realize this was all in the past.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for this lovely review Colacat. This is a happy memory for me tinged with sadness as my younger brother died sometime ago. Appreciate you reading.

Chris

[Vertigo Cat1111]

I’m so sorry for your loss, and I hope you’re doing okay. (: it was my pleasure reading it 💕💕💕

[Just Kim]

excellent description and imagery

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Kym. Please accept my apologies for the delay in thanking you.

Chris

[Just Kim]

oh that is quite fine... Take care

[Dr. YumnaKay]

This reminded me of my childhood days. I loved making sandcastles too, although hated that it would collapse with the oncoming waves... I suppose life is that way too - we keep on building until we're hit by untoward circumstances.. or at least that's where your poem took me to thinking.
Hope you've been doing well, Christine.

[Chris Shaw]

How lovely to get a visit from you Yumna. I love your new avatar. All OK with me and I wish the same for you. Yes, sandcastles on reflection can teach us lessons. When we are children, we don:t know that. Happy my efforts sent you on a nostalgia trip. Take care dear poet.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

Good writing.

An artfully intellectual description of a physical situation plus... however the reader would like to interpret that, etc...

Also, you don't overuse the vocabulary. Word economy is a very highly underrated ability. meow

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you. Pleased you enjoyed the read. I think economy of words is useful. No need to write a book when you can convey the meaning in a few words. Appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Dave]

Christine, you bring back such wonderful memories. We would spend countless hours building our castles, the more turrets, the better. We actually got to enjoy watching the incoming tide knock down one wall and then the other until none of it was left.
Thanks again for the reminder - take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave for your lovely review. Pleased you enjoyed the nostalgia trip. Take care

read moreThank you Dave for your lovely review. Pleased you enjoyed the nostalgia trip. Take care

Chris