Student Publishing Program ::

Alexandra Tsitsiklis

Sand Castles

I take out an old photo album
Look at pictures that bring back wonderful memories
Memories of old friendships; memories of the best days of my life
I laugh, remembering that I was once there
It feels like ages ago
The kids in the pictures seem like strangers
Six years old, no worries at all
At the beach all day, every day
The sun is shining and the water is perfect
The summer seems to last forever
Playing in the sun
Splashing each other and laughing joyfully
Building castles out of sand
I am there for a moment
Playing along with my friends in the photograph
Enjoying it while it lasts
I hear the waves crashing and smell the salty air
But the days go by, the years fly, and they grow up
The castles are washed away by the waves
They crumble and slip away into the ocean
Along with the castles go the carefree times
The times of innocence
They enter a world of drama and hardship
A world filled with poverty, hunger, and war
And I am there now, looking back
Wishing I could return to that picture
If I had the choice I would stay there forever
But I must go back to reality
Where nothing lasts forever
And sand castles are only in my imagination

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2010 EDITION]