How clouds are made
by Isabel Grey
For Byron F. Aspaas
In a time where Berndnaut Smilde can make clouds
inside, ephemeral art in cathedrals and coal mines,
like the heavens reclined I’m reminded of how clouds are made
sky-high. Clouds are made with the sighs of birds,
their response to sunrise and sunsets and the power to forget
the land below them, even if only for a little while.
Clouds are made when nearby plateaus are leveled
by the wind blown from another time, not yesterday
or tomorrow. Clouds are made
by the braiding of tears shed by a forgotten bride
and the first laughter she makes at her new lover’s smile.
Clouds are made during the silence that comes after
we’ve passed into the eye of depression’s storm.
Clouds are made when we drive too fast
over dirt roads in our excitement to return home.
Clouds are made in that tome online
full of old photographs and notes to self.
Clouds are made from the fist-fulls of ash
we scatter in our late loved one’s honor.
Clouds are made by grey matter,
forming nimbuses of rumination
that shade our heads like awnings.
Clouds are made when fog yawns
and retreats back up to bed.
Clouds are made as the moon
waves away stars like horse flies.
Clouds are sent, special-made
by the sun for our protection.
Clouds repent for their lightning spent
with a performance of iridescence
the color like soap bubbles washing away
thunder’s echoing refrain.
Clouds are shaped by the cookie cutters
of angels, baked at temperatures of repeating numbers.
Clouds are made to mislead each other:
it’s just a few miles up ahead, trust me!
Clouds are made to house the castles
we’ll retreat to after this.
Clouds are made as stepping-stones
for the gods and goddesses.
Clouds are made by Mother Nature to use as pillows
and for the Nephologist’s bliss.
Isabel Grey holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Western Colorado University. She is an assistant editor at Terrain.org. Her work can be found at Twenty Bellows, new words {press}, and elsewhere.
You can read the entire This Makes up the Sky series by visiting: https://womenwhosubmitlit.org/category/the-sky/
