peace

a father and child
this tuesday afternoon
in a corner of central park

light, rest, peace

i stopped to take a picture
embarrassed at myself
but moved by the simplicity of their connection

i snapped two quick shots
(this being the second)
and as i moved away
happy that i'd left them undisturbed
i realized that a number of passerbys had taken note of my actions

"hey, that is a good picture"
i heard one man say
and soon after, a small crowd had gathered
just quietly snapping away

i moved out of their view and towards the edge of the park
smiling to myself
at the visual of peace personified

thinking that if peace were an experience
it would probably be a parent and child asleep at a park
in the best city on earth
on a warm but breezy tuesday

and i just so happen to believe that if you run into
peace personified
be it ever so unattainable
be it ever so rare
then by all means you should take its picture

just don't be surprised when a crowd gathers behind you
ready to snatch up some of that peace for themselves

when this inevitably happens
simply step out of their way
and allow the peace to spread around
slowly but surely
to as many people as it can

before the baby wakes
before the father gets angry
before the rain begins to fall

before the moment is gone.