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y breath. To catch my life</p><p id="6820">Pause.</p><p id="e1ed">This poem was written in 2019 after being a victim of a hit-and-run.</p><p id="2e9b"><i>This is my first poem on Medium, but I have many more I’ll be releasing over time.</i></p><p id="cb2d"><i>Thank you for reading! If you’re wondering why I’ve been publishing less frequently, <a href="https://readmedium.com/medium-might-be-the-fast-food-of-literature-and-if-youre-a-writer-you-might-be-part-of-the-problem-17c552099bd8">here’s why</a> (still writing every day, just a lot in the drafts pile).</i></p><p id="a31f"><a href="https://thejoyceoflife.medium.com/membership"><i>Use my referral link</i></a><i> to join Medium today to get full access to every story on Medium and read every story from me (and thousands of other writers).</i></p><h1 id="f2b7">Did you know…</h1><p id="92af"><i>You can now listen to Medium on the Medium app or website by clicking the “play” icon. Listen while you walk, cook or commute.</i></p><p id="2e2a"><i>Don’t forget to please drop a comment or hold down the clap button if you liked this! <a href="https://medium.com/@thejoyceoflife">Browse around my page</a> to read more of my work. I’ve dropped some recent ones below!</i></p><p id="0cee"><b><i>More from Joyce on life & love:</i></b></p><div id="98a7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/7-reasons-you-are-hanging-on-to-a-fuckboy-92255bc2a6b5"> <div> <div> <h2>7 Reasons you are hanging on to a Fuckboy</h2> <div><h3>It’s clear he isn’t the one for you, yet you stay. Disgruntled and dissatisfied. Why? You’re not just some victim.</h3></div>

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Pause — A Poem on Slowing Down

My first accident: I hit pause. He hit play and in a second, our worlds clashed.

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the flowers (photo by Author)

I heard

“The pause is as important as the note” — Truman Fischer

The pause makes beautiful music

It makes melody of boisterous voices and clashing sounds

It gives them a pace and a tempo

The pause brings order — structure

“Pause” underscores the gratitude found in “play”

It isn’t a stop. It isn’t the end

It’s a moment. A breath. A beat

The beat gives the character character

Makes the moment dramatic. Memorable. Enhanced

The pause isn’t always easy, but it’s simple

I skipped the gym this week

I can feel the anxiety building

The pause is balance

It is a recharge. Reflect. Rest

My first accident:

I hit pause. He hit play

In a second, our worlds clashed

A moment. A crash

I paused to regroup

He sped away

Police stations. Insurance calls. Body shops

A pause from routine

Everything that was so important, so urgent…just isn’t

A smaller pause led to a bigger one

To catch my breath. To catch my life

Pause.

This poem was written in 2019 after being a victim of a hit-and-run.

This is my first poem on Medium, but I have many more I’ll be releasing over time.

Thank you for reading! If you’re wondering why I’ve been publishing less frequently, here’s why (still writing every day, just a lot in the drafts pile).

Use my referral link to join Medium today to get full access to every story on Medium and read every story from me (and thousands of other writers).

Did you know…

You can now listen to Medium on the Medium app or website by clicking the “play” icon. Listen while you walk, cook or commute.

Don’t forget to please drop a comment or hold down the clap button if you liked this! Browse around my page to read more of my work. I’ve dropped some recent ones below!

More from Joyce on life & love:

Poem
Better Humans
Psychology
Poetry
Peace
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