Tranquil Moments

I have found the need
To relax my restless mind,
To ease my tired spirit,
To calm my nerves
And to recharge my batteries
On a regular basis.
My mind and body require
Occasional moments of tranquillity,
Little escapes
To punctuate my day.
I need to get away,
Even if only in my head,
To think of other things
Than the hassle of the moment.
Sometimes I will go to a local park
And listen to the wind
Blowing through the trees,
Or take a five-minute nap.
Often I can’t physically get away,
But that doesn’t keep
My mind from traveling.
I can conjure up
A walk along the shore
Of some distant beach,
Even the feel of the sand at my feet
And the warm tropical waters
As the surf laps back and forth.
I can transport myself
To the top of a mountain
And feel the cold air
Blowing in my face,
The exhilaration of the climb,
The victory of conquering the mountain,
And the feeling of
Looking down on creation
And regaining my sense of
The beauty of life.
While I am driving
I will often entertain myself
Twisting the words of signs,
Playing with names or meanings,
Or just reading
All the wondrously creative
Advertising slogans
They have on billboards these days.
I smile to think
That someone actually gets paid
To have the fun
Of creating those things.
I work best on a tranquil mind.
It is only when I forget to relax,
To take time out from my day,
Or to exercise my sense of humor
That I lose my appreciation
For the privilege it is
Just to be alive.