Crawfish Kingdom by Iris Jensen

Small footprints left on damp ground,

cup in one small hand, dented shovel in the other.

Reaching up an arm, try to push away 

stray strands of bright blonde hair.  

Prepared to construct 

a fortress.

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Step one: find a spot. 

Secluded from the surf,

out of the way of wild dogs 

and wild children.

They aren’t all like you, 

and security 

is essential.  

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Step two: the design. 

Too many options, all the world 

is a stage, all the world 

is your foundation…

Stone keep? Medieval? Victorian?  

Motte and Bailey,

just stick to the classic.

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Step three: building materials.

Consistency is crucial. 

Not too dry, not too wet, 

not something you can describe.  

You’ll know it when you feel it. 

You already have your tools,

dented shovel, giant cup. 

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Step four: construction begins. 

Start with a solid base, packed tightly. 

Now the pillars, three of them, no, four. 

Perfectly shaped, perfectly detailed—

Möbius strip recycling arrows adorning the towers.

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The moat is next, deep enough that water 

starts to seep from the bottom.

Set a dead crawfish at the highest point, 

let it keep guard. 

You step back, admire your work. 

Indestructible, 

by land or by sea. 

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