Sandcastles

Upon a beach I came to stand
And watched a child at play.
He did while playing in the sand
A point of life convey.

With scoops and buckets he did build
A structure tall and grand
And to the child the beach did yield
A castle made of sand.

But as he left I do recall
Away I did not turn
And with the coming night would fall
A lesson to be learned.

The tide came in, with force did strike,
The castle could not stand.
And I was shown how life is like
A castle made of sand.

And Man, is but a child at play
His works they will not last.
For all he builds within his days
Shall be by time surpassed.

Each thing we do, each thing we say,
Each notion we conceive,
They all to soon shall pass away,
Yes, this I do believe.

We leave no mark, we leave no trace
That shall forever stand.
Be sure my friend, time will erase
Our days however grand.

Stan Bradford