A little girl

On the banks of a ruthless river
I saw a girl staring into the space.
Close she was to the fast running waters.
Still her face was as the river attempted to reach for her bare feet.

Frightened by the scene, I approached the little girl,
Wanting to protect her from the river and danger.
Surprised I was to see no fare in the girl’s eyes.
Instead, wisdom and peace reflected in her eyes.

“Aren’t you frightened? “– I asked a girl.
She looked me in the eyes and I felt as if she looked into my soul.
“No” – she said. “The river can not harm me, unless I let it to.”
Her answer struck me. How can she be so sure?

“Life is a river.” – she said to me after a moment of silence.
“Sometimes the current is very strong like it is today.”
“And then it slows down. That’s when it is safe to cross.”
“No matter what, I choose how much the river affects me.”

Silence was my answer to the little girl.