Life is like a day at the beach.
Grains of excitement and fun
scooped into the bucket
and, one by one, so carefully placed.

Carved with a tiny plastic shovel
into a castle for the Monarch crabs
to explore later when we've gone.
Ruling all they survey for a while.

Tiny lines drawn in the sand
by scampering crab legs
as they retreat from the incoming tide.
They watch their castle crumble.

Outer walls first surrender
and become the beach again.
Then the structure is swished
and washed away back to the sea.

Time goes on. We rub lotion
on our sunburn and get ready
for another day at work.
Our memories fade like the castle.

Tides come and go in cycles
washing, purifying, erasing
as crabs scamper and sunburns heal.
Life is like a day at the beach.