Naps

Naps

After watching my toddler’s eyes close—
drifting off to the dreamland of toys,
stuffed animals, and illustrated books—

I couldn’t help but ponder the bliss
in taking regular afternoon naps.
Why do we, adults, skip them?

How often, with our bellies full,
in the heart and heat of the day,
have we longed to dive into the pool of sleep

for just a simple lap?
It seems just as necessary to rinse
off the stress of the morning—

calls, emails, meetings—
as it does to peel away the day’s
burdensome layers at night.

Why do we choose to cut the tree of
sluggishness and distraction with
a sledgehammer?

We could use the swift ax of rest,
traveling away for a moment,
but always returning with more wood in hand.

(c) 2010 by Vincent Lowry