I Built A Castle

I built a castle in the sand

at ebb tide

built it big and beautiful my hands cupped the grains the grains fitted tight under

took form

my hands

I watched my castle

I loved my castle

And when the tide turned

I fought the waves

standing before my castle angry and afraid

but it went down and there was

only

flat sand

now I have gone far inland

to a new strange place

to hammer myself a castle

out of rock and granite

where no waves can wash it over

no wind blow it to dust

But the tools are clumsy

slow

my hands

and faltering

and I sometimes wonder if

I want another castle

doubt

if I can build one

in this new strange land.

again

photograph by Maria Werder

NOEL H. BUSTARD

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