feet in the sand

the father
follows the young girl down
to the shore.
she's maybe three,
rushing
rushing to the sound
of waves.
her small feet denting the soft
sand.
her eyes
blinking at the wonder
of it all.
the blue of water,
the shine of a yellow sun.
he picks her up and swings
her about.
she'll never be happier than
this you think.
how quickly it all fades,
how fast
they grow
and will be gone.