Kids on a beach

with a plastic bucket

or a coffee can

and soon there is

a crater in the sand

it's what they always do

kid's common inclination

 

with wind in their hair

and salt on their tongues

they dig deep into their work

shoveling sand

pail after pail

as though it were their job

 

as natural as

the motion of waves

the desire to dig and shape

is the way all kids play

given time

and a stretch of sand

 

soon a castle appears

constructed with walls and towers

with sticks for flag poles

and shells for decoration

 

kids love to mine the sand

searching for something

as basic as curiosity

to see what lies beneath

to find a hidden treasure

 

they lose all track of time

there is no ticking clock

no ringing bell

no one to call them home

 

the beach is the free playground

of kids turned loose from school

finding freedom so brief

they have to take advantage

while they can

 

hoping to hit China

before the sun goes down.