Pause For Poetry:
Michael Hawkes /98

Have You Got A Minute?

January 8, 2026

A poem by Michael Hawkes

Biting nails right to the quick;-

TICK.

Knees knocking wildly;-

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Breath abated, eyes dilated

As the hands reach twelve o’clock;-

TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK,

TICK.

Waiting for catastrophe,

For leaden skies to fall.

Time will wait for nobody

Fate overtakes us all;-

TOCK, TICK TOCK,

TICK.

Waiting for the final bell,

For fan-blown stuff to stick,

How long a wait one cannot tell;-

TICK TOCK,

TICK.

An entire planet gone to hell,

It can happen in a click,

Another TOCK

Then TICK!

20/04/22 – Hawkes

Feature image: Amar Saleem – Pexels

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