Grey Shoreline

I watched a child
digging in the sand
just above the surf, 

a hole for no reason. 

I should have told him
about futility, 

and lost battles,
and life, 

but I sat idly by, 

so my darkness
could see him fail, 

and my light
could see him hope.


*Published in Shepherd University's Sans Merci Literary Magazine, 2007.