Pause

 

You misread the facts

And now see what you’ve caused,

Before you rushed on

You should have paused.

 

You are one of those persons

That show little respect for our laws,

It’s high time you stop!

Time to take a pause.

 

In your haste to sign

You missed that critical clause,

Now you are thinking to yourself,

“I should have paused.”

 

You habitually criticize others

While believing you have no flaws,

You are headed for trouble

If you don’t take a pause.

 

You revel in self-glory

And are desirous of men’s applause,

This is unstable scaffolding-

Please take a pause.

 

You gamble religiously

But you’ve had no luck in the draws,

Yet it has become so addictive

You can’t even take a pause.

 

In every endeavour of life

There is need for an occasional pause,

For an assessment of the journey

And to iron out the flaws.

 

A pause is a critical need

Like refreshment to the weary soul

That in a moment of reflection

Brings back into focus one’s goal.

  

If your aim has become erratic

It is time to take a pause,

Hitting the middle of the wrong target

Is not a justifiable cause.

 

A pause is better than wasted time

Or effort poured into nothing,

Or even the task of cleaning up

After the resulting ruin.

 

Pause if you must

And for as long as you must,

It is better to get there alive and well

Than be a statistic in the dust.

 

Pause to ask for directions

Or to receive some needed inspiration,

Pause to help another

In his moment of frustration.

 

Pause to build relationship

Pause to urge someone else along,

Pause as a matter of fellowship

With a word, a smile or a song.

 

Pause for no reason at all

Or maybe just to take in a scenery,

It may give you the impetus needed

To complete your arduous journey.

 

Pause is never to be permanent,

It is a breather or a respite

And often when going around in circles

Can bring a goal back into sight.

 

This poem is full of pauses

In the verses and the thoughts

And I truly appreciate the satisfaction

That to me it has brought.

 

I paused between each verse

To gather my thoughts again

And that pause added invaluable help

In helping me achieve my aim.

 

Having paused to read this poem

I trust that you understand

A pause is absolutely necessary

In our everyday plan.

 

Plan to pause to pray to reflect.

 

Stewart Russell © September 20, 2020