A Grandmother's love of the beach provides the framework for an unexpected analogy.

With all of your memories, the castle is filled.
Each turret and tower, a lifetime to build.
Unsuspecting, you smile; the tide rushes in.
Fragile, unknowing--the battle begins.

As each wave ebbs in, it washes away
Memories that you had held dear 'till today.
Relentless, its onslaught of you rages on
Faces and places, once familiar, now gone.

No breakwall can stop it, no damming can hide
This mind-thieving ocean, this heartbreaking tide.
We scurry to help you, to brace up the walls.
Trying to prevent the inevitable falls.

We hold fast, to keep you within our arms reach,
Still you seem just a shell of yourself on this beach.
The sun now is setting, as day turns to night
We vow we won't lose you--not without a fight.

Dear Grandma, please know that you aren't alone.
Someday they'll cure this--the battle then won.
Until then, I'll hold you--stand by your side.
Keeping your sandcastle safe from the tide.

Copyright 2000 Traci Hayner Vanover