In the pause
     (before the wave comes crashing down;
     before the world ends again;
     before and after, in-between and waiting...)
I take a breath
     (while the war is stopped;
     while the valves hold still;
     no heart-attack;
     no heartbeat;
     and no (while it waits) heart...)
And think of things
     (pause is long;
     waiting sucks unless you
     wait a little more
     successfully;thoughtfully;poignantly
     than most)
That happen only
in between.

Like:  Keeping watch for daylillies, and
hummingbirds before they light, and
tides that wait above the Earth, for something to catch
up.
It is a catching-up
It is a pregnant ceasing, and 
in between the atoms
lives the bare, stripped force
of what may only make waves
by waiting.

©  Copyright, 2000; Malcolm Beckett