Sandcastles
While sifting through old photographs
Of childhood, black and white,
I came across a scene that stirred
My memory, overnight,
Three children by a sandcastle,
The finest ever made,
My sister, me and Hazel,
Made with bucket, and with spade,
With towers, crenellations
And surrounded by a moat,
The sand was dry, the tide was out
It stood there proud, remote.
Though sixty years have passed since then,
That camera shutter's sight
Caught just one random moment in
An afternoon's delight,
It froze that moment of our lives,
That castle on the sand,
And though the tide swept in that day
That castle, still it stands,
While we watched as the sands of time
Wrought havoc in our lives,
The moat we built could not protect
From husbands, or from wives.
The tide swept in and filled the moat,
The sides began to melt,
The water undermined the walls
And suddenly, they fell,
The love that we had built them with
Was washed right out to sea,
And left no sign of love behind,
For Hazel, Tess or me,
And then we learned the lesson
That our lives revolved around,
That nothing built will last unless
It's built on solid ground.
We spent our lives in dreaming
Building castles in the sand,
Believing that the tide would never turn
To wreck our plans,
We thought love was the answer
'Til discovering, too late,
That love swings on a pendulum,
The other end is hate,
And just as tides flow in and out
And level out the land,
The tides of life wreak havoc with
Our castles in the sand.
7 February 2009
poem by David Lewis Paget
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Related quotes
A Sand Castle And Our Magic Bond
Was the sunset and almost coming night,
Me and you sitting at the sea side and the seagulls are flying around,
Horizon in red highlights is hiding sun behind,
Sea seems so romantic in the moonlight dance.
We built from sand a castle,
We made a solid ground and built the walls around,
Our hands were merging together,
We belived in our dream, in our ideal.
Waves came and washed away our castle,
Nothing was left behind,
Only our love remains forever,
You and me and our magic bond.
Our sand castle was swept to shore,
We can't see it no more,
But what we built together,
It will be kept as a tresure in the heart.
Nothing in this life lasts forever,
From our material living world,
Only love and spirit values,
Are the eternal, never-ending truth.
poem by Cristina Teodor
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Sandcastles
It was a dark - Foggy day.
When I decided to venture ahoy!
Ahead, onto the beach.
To face its sandy dunes.
So thither, I headed.
Passed via coastal road.
Through bleak shrubberies.
Which masked every approach.
Finally ended, saw my goal.
Those sandy dunes.
Mile, after another - They extend.
Fill me with awe.
So I waded ahead.
Arrived, sat upon a sandy reef.
Alone, for now.
Reminisced of you.
Of love, future we need.
With nothing but my awe.
A seagull, or two.
Sparrows, swift and few.
To keep me company.
Saw - In the distance.
A wall of clouds.
Thunder and Rain!
Storm, it would bring.
Yet avoid me.
I proudly deemed.
My little spot.
Upon the sand.
So I mused.
Decided to use.
This unusual pause.
To my advantage.
Thus I built my castle.
Onto the sand.
Beside the sea.
I built it.
Dug a mighty harbor, beside it.
A breakwater, ramparts to secure it.
To guarantee, my dominion.
Upon the sand.
It had cannon of twigs.
Flagpoles of grass.
With flags and banners.
Made of flowers, I chanced upon.
So it was, stood for an hour.
Then foundered upon the first noon tide.
Its purpose defeated.
By nature's might.
So I built another.
Smarter, I deemed myself.
Placed it higher.
Inland, it seemed.
It rose soon.
Better, mightier - More impressive still.
With banners of leaves.
Garrisoned, by sea-grass tufts.
As soon, as it arose.
It disappeared.
Washed away.
By a sudden burst of rain.
So yet another one, I raised.
With towers tall and strong.
Proud walls - Lights!
Windows, moat and all…
No tide, no rain ever.
Could have washed it away!
But after a minute or two.
It dried - Sand was bleached.
Began dripping away.
One grain, at a time.
Slowly, surely eroded.
By the passing of time.
Sun, each gust of wind.
So it gradually fell.
By the grain.
Until nothing remained.
But mounds in the sand.
So I determined myself.
The wiser, keener.
With experience - Intellect!
Decided to build another one.
A castle again.
Made from tiny little stones….
poem by Ilari Rahja
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Trenches of Melancholy
Your loss,
Has left me,
In infinite sadness;
As my grains of sand are displaced, grain by grain;
By your horizon-bound tide;
As the sand castles,
That were built deep within,
The walls of my temple,
Are now fragile to the torrents of your brine;
As I gather on abyssal depths;
Scattered on the ocean floor;
Far from your graceful self waltzing below the heavens;
A fateful journey of divergent destinies;
As sand castles part pristine white sands;
To embrace trenches of melancholy.
Oh the fragility of love!
poem by Dilantha Gunawardana
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Castle in the Sand
I built castle in the sand
Reaching to the far off land
I gathered the sand to mount it high
Thinking to built a castle in the sky
But fate took a different path
The castle I had built was down at last
The breeze blew
The castle flew...
I now sit here all alone
Gathering the sand to rebuild a home
But what a dream I did see
To always have him near by me
poem by Meena Mustafa
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Who Can Touch The Sky?
In youth, castles are built of
sand
Ever shifting, and restless,
Somewhat as beach combers,
Eventually a tide swept in,
Gathering them in angry
arms
Whirling expectations to sea.
Here of late, castles appear
on high ground, undisturbed.
Who can touch the sky?
poem by Heather Burns
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To survive me
I built castles after castles
That went one after the other
By their own weight and time.
I built them of sand, living on shores.
That is the fact I have known of late.
I haven’t left my efforts.
I now make footprints deep
In sand for them to survive me.
08.01.2007
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Castle Walls
She ventured out from her castle walls
In hopes of meeting me,
I said: ‘we’ll flee to the furthest shores,
We’ll run to the far countree,
We’ll sit in bliss on a grassy slope
To see our love returned; ’
I looked again at the moat and saw
That all the boats were burned.
‘How shall I leave my castle walls
And all that keeps me free,
I fear the step that you wish to take
Could spell the end for me,
I wish to come, if I only dared, ’
She said in a sad reply,
The moat was still and the air was chill
And the moon was riding high.
I stood alone by the castle moat
As she turned to seek the warm;
‘The roads of life are a trap, ’ I cried,
‘But so is a thunderstorm,
So are the walls of a castle when
The mortar turns to dust,
So are the bolts on a castle gate
When the hinges start to rust.’
‘You weary me, I must be free, ’
The tower echoed, black,
‘As free as the castle walls allow, ’
I called in sadness back.
‘It’s not too late for the grassy slope
To see our love returned -’
I looked again at the moat and saw
That all the boats were burned.
12 July 1973
poem by David Lewis Paget
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Legend of the Sea
Many years ago
A story was told to me
About a mighty Triton
And his Goddess of the sea
~~~~~~*****~~~~~~
Two sweethearts met upon the shore
Touching ~ holding hands
Speaking softly as they left
Their footprints in the sand
A kiss they shared ~ so tenderly
Love shone with golden light
Enraptured in the setting sun
Souls filled with sweet delight
Wind whispered low ~ to the surging tide
As it edged ~ ever so near
To join the lovers standing close
Not seeing the waves appear
With gentle flow ~ the cunning tide
Moved across the land
To capture the magic essence
Of love's spirit in the sand
The tide ~ it made a mighty surge
And pulled the lovers out to sea
As they held tightly to each other
Their love tossed ~ through eternity
Now through the years ~ a legend grew
About these lovers in the sand
And how the sea did claim them
For it desired their love so grand
On evening tide ~ so many say
If you walk down by the sea
You'll see the golden lovers
Frolicking ~ wild and free
It's said the sea was jealous
For a love that could not be
And the lovers became immortal
With the greatest love you'll ever see
Yes, he is the mighty Triton
She is his Goddess of the sea
And they will stay among the waves
In love ~ for eternity....
poem by Hazelmarie Elliott
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Sand Castles
Sand castles on the beach,
but still far out of reach
of the encroaching waves
which wash into the caves
like an unwelcome leach.
The tide will wash it away.
Eden will passionately sway
to the rhythm of the wind.
A moment never to be rescind.
Build the castles anyway.
The sand will always be
just sand and infinitely free.
Whether we use it or not,
it will eventually come to naught,
but the memories remain with me.
poem by Suzette Crous
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Another Huge Earthquake
Another huge Earthquake in Java and thousands are missing and dead
Just one angry outburst of Nature leaving millions of people in dread
Of another mighty earth tremor the fear it is real and widespread
Of the destructive power of our Earth Mother so much has been written and said,
Another huge Earthquake to talk of the anger of Nature no human structure can hope to withstand
Once great buildings left in huge piles of rubble as if they were castles of sand
Built by children on the beach at low tide that at high tide were washed out to sea
So great is the power of our Earth Mother and not one as mighty as she,
All of life lives off of Mother Nature and of her power we are aware
And though Nature can kill thousands of people Mother Nature is never unfair
People come and go like the Seasons but Nature she lives on and on
And she will be around forever though all present life forms may be gone
But she will create new life forms and Nature is forever more
And the stream from the hill will flow down to the river that flows to the great ocean shore.
poem by Francis Duggan
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People Who Live
People who live by the sea
understand eternity.
They copy the curves of the waves,
their hearts beat with the tides,
& the saltiness of their blood
corresponds with the sea.
They know that the house of flesh
is only a sandcastle
built on the shore,
that skin breaks
under the waves
like sand under the soles
of the first walker on the beach
when the tide recedes.
Each of us walks there once,
watching the bubbles
rise up through the sand
like ascending souls,
tracing the line of the foam,
drawing our index fingers
along the horizon
pointing home.
poem by Erica Jong
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Bright Buckets
Bright buckets bulge with sand and shells today,
brimmed by children busily at play,
intent on building, digging time away
upon the beach, sand castles they inlay
with scalloped decorations castaway
by last tide’s currents, scattered anyway
along the tattered margin of the bay.
A tiny grain of sand was yesterday
caught up within the complex interplay
of forces ‘yond our ken which ever weigh
upon the stream of consciousness to sway
more than a moment’s notice in their way
regardless of the influences they
appear to have upon our day to day.
Our meditations led far, far away
to rock formations which Time’s Go games play
until the grain by wind or water spray
from bedrock blown, is worn down, dust or clay,
key silent witness to life’s chaos fray.
What change of scene, and what has been, what may
yet be that grain stands witness to Time’s stay...?
poem by Jonathan Robin
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Storms Of Life
The storms of life
run rampant through
our lives
weaving their way
across the planes
flooding the valleys
leaving remnants of
yesterday
rushing toward the
shore line
disturbing sand
castles
built there long
ago
leaving behind mounds
of sand
on they go, winding
their way
to theis destination.
poem by Heather Burns
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The Salty Sea
Oh, how I love the salty sea,
And if it were up to me,
I would stay there night and day,
While felling it's soft, sweet spray.
I would sit on the salty sea shore,
Watching the seagulls dip and soar.
I would sit on the sand, soft and white,
And stay 'till the sun was out of sight.
When the sea tide is low,
I will stay while it tickles my toes.
When the sea tide is high,
I will not bid it good-bye.
Oh, how I love the salty sea,
I wish it belonged just to me.
If I could hold my breathe forever,
I would never move, never!
So, on the sand I would lay,
And wait for the tide to take me away...
Oh, how I love the sea!
poem by Layla Stone
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Gouge Back The Innocence
This moment is just the moment
and thats what it will always be
Waves of time wash away
all thats left is sand this day
Fresh, and this moment will mould
Once again for time to take
My castles still up you see
tides havnt washed it away
Its just the way I am
new eyes in this world
but I guess thats just me
Im afraid its gonna get the best of me
I take shelter under the house,
built of pink pills and smoke rings
Time goes by fast
Still this castle stands
Maybe youre the wiser part of me
thats slowly starting to see
the short roads not the one to take,
on the other side theres more heart-ache
Hope still glimmers inside of me
Movies and fairy tales have gotten the best of me
False hope gets the best of me
from time to time my soul takes a stride
robbed of innocence along the path
someone tear my eyes out
a price I pay to get it back
robbed of innocence along the path
someone tear our eyes out
a price we pay to get it back
poem by Wild Child
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Heart In My Hands
if i laid down my cross,
by the riverside.
and built a fire
out of things denied.
if i took off my mask,
revealing all i tried to hide.
if i took the chance,
and let you look inside.
would you love me?
would you know me for a man?
would you see me for more
than kingdoms built on sand?
would you if i would?
i know that i can...
i'll stand where i am,
with my heart in my hands.
if we forgot and forgave,
the stumbles and the falls.
if we broke down anger,
and tore down the walls.
if you knew your heart,
would you stop, would you pause?
would your feet follow your longing,
would you answer my call?
would you love me?
would you know me for a man?
would you see me for more
than kingdoms built on sand?
would you if i would?
i know that you can...
just stand where you are,
with your heart in your hands.
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Fairy Tails & Castles
He says, he looks in the mirror, and he cant tell anymore,
Who he really is and who they believe him to be.
He says he walks a thin line between what is and what could be,
And hes getting closer to something he cant understand.
Chorus: cause theres a crack in his plastic crown
And his thrown of ice is melting.
He climbed his latter there was nothing there
And now its a long way down.
cause on and on and on he goes dancing on the grave
Of what he thought was still alive.
On and on and on he goes
Dancing in mansions made of twigs
And castles made of sand.
He says his head is filled with cartoons fairy tails
And hes trapped inside a dungeon of dolls with smiles on their faces.
Hes built a pretty cage his shows on a beautiful stage
With candy coated prison bars and chains that look like jewelry.
Chorus
cause he lives inside of fairy tails and castle land
Theres room inside for false expectations and illusions
Chorus
On and on and on he goes....
song performed by by Lifehouse
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Castles Made Of Sand
Down the street you can hear her scream
You're a disgrace as she slams the door
in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
and all the neighbors start to gossip and drool
He cries oh girl you must be mad
What happened to the sweet love you and me had
Against the door he leans and start a scene
and his tears fall and burn the garden green
And so castles made of sand
fall in the sea
eventually
A little Indian brave who before he was ten
played wargames in the woods with his Indian friends
And he built a dream that when he grew up
he would be a fearless warrior Indian chief
Many moons past and more the dream grew strong
until tomorrow he would sing his first war song
and fight his first battle
but something went wrong
surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night
And so castles made of sand
fall in the sea
eventually
There was a young girl
whose heart was a frown
'cause she was crippled for life
and she couldn't speak a sound
and she wished and prayed
she could stop livin'
so she decide to die
She drew her wheelchair to the edge of the shore
and to her legs she smiled
You won't hurt me no more
But then a sight she'd never seen made her jump and say
Look a golden winged ship is passing my way
And it really didn't have to stop
It just kept on going
And so castles made of sand
slips into the sea
eventually
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fairy Tails And Castles
He sighs and looks in the mirror
He can't tell anymore
Who he really is and who they believe him to be
And he sighs and walks in a thin line
Between what is and what could be
He's getting closer
To something he can't understand
Cause there's a crack in his plastic crown
And his throne of ice is melting
He climbed his ladder
And there was nothing there
And now it's a long way down
Cause on and on and on he goes dancing on the grave
Of what he thought was still alive
On and on and on he goes
Dancing in mansions made of twigs
And castles made of sand
He sighs his head is filled with
Cartoons and fairy tales
And he's trapped inside a dungeon of dolls
With smiles on their faces
He's built a pretty cage
Hit shows on a beautiful stage
With candy coated prison bars
And chains that look like jewelry
Cause there's a crack in his plastic crown
And his throne of ice is melting
He climbed his ladder
And there was nothing there
And now it's a long way down
Cause on and on and on he goes dancing on the grave
Of what he thought was still alive
On and on and on he goes
Dancing in mansions made of twigs
And castles made of sand
Cause he lives inside
Of fairy tails and castle lands
And there's room inside
For false expectations and illusions
Cause there's a crack in his plastic crown
And his throne of ice is melting
He climbed his ladder
And there was nothing there
And now it's a long way down
It's a long way down
Cause on and on and on he goes dancing on the grave
Of what he thought was still alive
On and on and on he goes
Dancing in m
song performed by by Lifehouse
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Castles Made Of Sand
Down the street you can hear her scream youre a disgrace
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
And his tears fall and burn the garden green
And so castles made of sand fall in the sea, eventually
A little indian brave who before he was ten,
Played wargames in the woods with his indian friends
And he built up a dream that when he grew up
He would be a fearless warrior indian cheif
Many moons past and more the dream grew strong until
Tomorrow he would sing his first warsong and fight his first battle
But something went wrong, surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night
And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually
There was a young girl, whos heart was a frown
cause she was crippled for life,
And she couldnt speak a sound
And she wished and prayed she could stop living,
So she decided to die
She drew her wheelchair to the edge of the shore
And to her legs she smiled you wont hurt me no more
But then a sight shed never seen made her jump and say
Look a golden winged ship is passing my way
And it really didnt have to stop, it just kept on going...
And so castles made of sand slips into the sea, eventually
song performed by by Jimi Hendrix
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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