Writing in the Sand

Under the early sun and clouds salt the sea and beach, splashing the shallow waves little friends play and shout with glee happily looking for shells and pebbles.

Children with the sun high and exploring rock pools with tiny fishes and midday adventures in joy and laughter cool-drinks and ice-cream armed with a little bucket and spade building sandcastles.

As the kingdoms of old as tide comes the water washes away our puny strongholds the castles are destroyed by the sea water in white foam. Waves wash with lazy clouds drifting all our castles perish away to nothing.

Later and long shadows cool before sunset in shining wet sand flat as a mirror, like a child I write your name with a stick in the wet sand, a girl's name, ANNA. Out over comes smooth sssswwissh and water fills the letters. Flat again comes the clear water it flows with foam pulls back and your name faded, once more and barely a trace sssswwissh your name disappears into tiny ripples rippling forever. And peace.