once in awhile

once in a great while
it’s as though someone’s hit the pause button
there’s no wind, no sound, no movement
I almost catch my breath
but am fooled by the lull and swept away

there’s no excuse
for my inattention
I should know better
there’s history at my beck and call
if I just heed it

once in blue moon
it feels like yet another last chance
I’ve been granted without a reason
not earning a place in the sun for nothing
not knowing when to turn tail and hide away

there’s no better time
than in those quiet moments
when the air is still and you can stop
everything
to just restart

but sometimes it isn’t enough
to understand the need to change
there are other distractions dissuading movement
and sometimes you forget history
and you get stuck hitting the pause button