A Child and His Sandcastle

A boy sits near the shore
Where the sand is wet
Where the water receeds.
As the tide rolls back
Beyond the strength of salty waves
He grasps liquid earth
With both hands.
He builds a deformed world:
A hiding place for sea crabs,
A nesting place for gulls.
Once he is satisfied
The structure is large enough,
He steps inside and rests
Awaiting a new tide
That will reclaim
His world to the sea.