This poem stops time.
It doesn’t reverse it
or change anything.

For a moment,
it stops.

Pauses.

Puts a notice on the sender
and says:
listen—
pay attention.

This poem stops time.

Some poems do other things,
make you feel.
This one doesn’t.

It simply stops the earth
in its rotation,
holds it on its axis,
just long enough

for you to pause,
take a breath,
and continue with your day.

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly. His third book, Train of Thought 2: Almost Home is available now at the Oddball Book Store.