for the love of sand and skin

it was beautiful today,
as we sat together
on the soft sand -
two children
with itching hands,
wanting to simply dig -
not too much,
just a little for now;

to feel the grains
slide against our skin,
giving in,
and flying through
our fingers
opening to the sun,
to dig because
we love digging,

not to build sandcastles
saved from hungry waves,
but to dig,
for the joy of it -
for the smiles,
for the sweat,
for the love
of sand and skin,
and then stand astonished,
to see the carving out
of a mine,
from within.