Sandcastles

This is a poem/story I wrote while in the silence of the Badlands. 
The amazing photography is compliments of Brie Elliot. 

Once upon a time I built a castle

On the shore of a great blue sea.

I built it with shovel and pail and a little salt water

And I adorned it with the choicest seaweed and shells.

I was so pleased, that I showed it to You. 

"Isn't it grand?" I asked. "Almost as tall as me!"

And aren't the shells lovely? And do you like 

My swirly-curly carvings and the candy striped towers? 

You smiled and nodded with patience and grace,

"It is quite lovely. But I want to show you something. 

Follow me westward, further up and deeper in

To see what I have in my innermost heart."

And so we traveled west together. 

And You taught me your songs and told me your tales, 

And pointed out details I never would have seen

And just when I thought I knew everything about You...

You brought me here and showed me your castles

Like mine, they were made of sand, but far more grand. 

They were grounded deep and firm on solid rock

And they rose so high above me I could barely see the tops. 

And so many! To the far horizon and beyond

They collided and tumbled over each other

Mounds, buttes, towers, buttresses, and spires

All vying for space and glory. 

"I have made all of this," You said to me, 

"And I want to share it with you. 

Will you leave your sandcastle behind

And come live here among mine?"

For a curiously prideful reason, I resisted. 

Yours were far more magnificent and wild than mine

But I'd rather have what I designed, created, and controlled. 

My sandcastle was small, but it was my very own. 

I wasn't willing to give it up - at least, not yet

So I asked to return to the seashore

And You patiently traveled with me to the east, 

And stood back, letting me approach my castle alone. 

The tide had begun to pull the ramparts into mud

And the lacy seaweed had begun to wilt

The candy-striped spirals were dry and crumbling

And I regretted clinging so tightly to this lump of sand. 

I grabbed my tools and tried to replicate Your handiwork.

I dug deeper foundations and tried to pile higher towers,

I thickened the walls and tried to fortify them,

But everything I tried, failed and fell short. 

That's when You invited me again to Your innermost heart

To admire and climb and dwell in Your sandcastles

This time I said yes and we returned together

And You gave me a precious gift.

"All of my castles I share with You," You said. 

"But here is one I made especially for you.

It has the choicest seashells and seaweed

And swirly-curly carvings and candy-striped towers."

It was true - before me was a castle I had dreamed of,

Complete with every precious detail, but better. 

It was taller and mightier and more firmly grounded

The walls were solid, and the colors majestic.

You took the things most loved and cherished in my hopes

And mixed them with Your strength, beauty and glory

You designed a plan that is the delight of both of our hearts,

And gave me a dream that is now hidden in Yours.

~ "Sandcastles"

CLChandler

7/14/13