We built our castles by the shore

by foamy surf and shell-crushed sand,

our ears resounding with the roar

of water crashing into land.

—

By foamy surf and shell-crushed sand

we formed the ramparts, built the wall,

The water crashing into land

reminding us to make it tall.

—

We formed the ramparts, built the wall

as tidewash tickled round our toes

reminding us to make it tall

and thick, with towers ranged in rows.

—

As tidewash tickled round our toes

we built beneath a granite rock—

Built thick, with towers ranged in rows

as water rushed on like a clock.

—

We built beneath a granite rock

though surf approached our gatehouse door.

The water rushed on like a clock,

our towers crumbled more and more.

—

Though surf engulfed our gatehouse door,

the rock stood firm against the waves.

Our towers crumbled more and more:

a castle-ring of sandy graves.

—

The rock stood firm against the waves.

We would return and try again.

The castle-ring of sandy graves

would grow to mighty greatness then.

—

We did return to try again,

our ears resounding with the roar.

It grew to mighty greatness. But

we built our castles on the shore…

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