Sand Castle

Ronnel Kien Bermas, Philippines

Today, I glimpsed myself from the foamy water and
Thought that my footsteps were messy entry points
To a dream.
The sunlight draped over my forehead; we were
Asked to wait until the bucket is full, and I was told
To stay.

On the shore, a memory lost in remembering,
In my head, a future caged inside the past,

See, they say, you just have to feel the minutes like
They were harmless black ants, because fear
Only becomes real when you're seconds away from
The sea,
Yet my shadow becomes larger and there's no other
Way, but forward.

I drink as often as I think about the salt long
After the taste is gone, when the waters surge and all
I could see were the shore without its history.
The bucket, full.
The child's sleeping, awash by the rain.

Ronnel is currently a college freshman at the Ateneo de Manila University where he is studying Management Information Systems. He likes watching videos of red pandas during his free time.