Seagulls

I walked on the sand
And went down by the sea
And all of my footsteps
Came following me
That line in the sand
It was perfect and long
'til a wave washed it over
And then it was gone

Peasants and princes
Have walked here the same
But nobody knows
Or remembers their name
There were some that were petty
There were some that were kind
But there's not a trace
That they left here behind

And I thought of the passage
Of all living things
Crawling in dust
Or soaring on wings,
How each has its moment
To shine in the sun
Then all of them vanish
Each, every one

But all of my thinking
Was vexing to me
So I turned my attention
To where it should be
And I gathered my children
Took each by the hand
And we watched as the seagulls
Played over the sand