STOP

STOP

slow the fragments zooming around you at the speed of light

stutter them to a halt

it will take some strength, but I know you have it in you

STOP

take a breath

a deep breath

the first one you’ve taken in a long, long time

STOPnow, look around you

look, really look

pull the clouded glasses from your eyes

it will take some strength, but you’re better off without them

STOP

isn’t it interesting?

everything you were missing

the beauty in that grain of rice

in that ant’s little antennae

in the massive stars a million miles away

in the love and the loneliness that was burrowed deep inside of you

STOP

it will hurt at first

to see, really see the pain around you

you may begin to feel hopeless

you may want to put your glasses back on

i urge you,

STOP

it may take some time

to get used to your new world

you might feel crushed at first by the brand-new empathy piled on top of you

but eventually

as you look closer and closer into the fragments around you

you’ll see the enormous beauty

it was around you all this time

STOP

it’s never hopeless

it’s not all up to you

what could we do?

if everyone all over the world stopped

every racing particle fell to the ground

if we all looked around

and really saw each other

STOP

you are in control

you are a very important part of this impossibly beautiful life

opening your eyes

gave you every bit of power you need

STOP

there’s only one more step

it’s your turn now

to spread the word!

you may feel tired

I promise it gets easier with people by your side

now go forth

stop everybody in your path

some will be easier to stop than others

but everyone is equally important

I have trust in you

now go,

STOP

by Maggie Ebinger

Iowa City, IA

Spring, 2026