A Respite at the Lake

As I sit on the dock bench
stretched out over the lake,
an inner peace envelops
me.  Worries cease.

Boats pass leaving waves
and ripples. A distant highway.
Surrounded by nature’s
embrace, I feel calm.

Life assumes new meaning.
Birds circle above; fishermen
cast their reels. Tiny fish
swim helter-skelter below.

A boat resembling a tug passes
the dock; men wearing high waders
anchor a net near shore. Why, I muse?
Probably monitoring fish.

Peace interrupted once more by
a child, dog and mother who leave
just as quickly as they had come.
A train whistle beckons me.

Silent prayers float across the lake
to friends and loved ones.
Peace renewed, the respite at
the lake has refreshed.