Sleeping Beauty

She paused for a long, cool drink,

hopped on a hot rock,

and closed her eyes

for a while.

The sun’s warmth

on a Spring afternoon,

the distant drone of a lawn mower,

and a waterfall’s pattern of endless rhythm behind her

bubbling and uninterrupted,

put the girl into a deep slumber.

Ah, but I understand.

I would not dare startle,

backing away

silently and slowly

I whispered

“Peace be still.”