Children rarely see a sunrise
Gold washes clean the land
But now the chance of excitement
To walk a shore of distant sand.

Eye spy is a chore by seven
As woods whiz past the glass
Mother starts her early drinking
And father screams at cars that pass.

By noon the sun bakes upon the sea
The first chore is emptying the trunk
As baby builds a sandcastle
Its glittered foundations there have sunk.

Father waves at watching mermaids
As mother rolls her eyes and sighs
Applying sunscreen against dragonfire
Now winged shadows fill the skies.

The seas are filled with monsters
Beneath the sand are things that gore
So mother packs the car with shells
Leaving only footprints on the shore.

Baby learns new swear words now
As father shouts at passing cars
The beach is hot and dangerous
So next year is a holiday on Mars.