Clouds

Who can know the mysterious 
ways of the clouds? 
They travel in white whipped masses
and gather like solemn pinnacles 
looking upwards in reverent penitence. 

Silent clouds slowly form and move about
like floating fields in a heavenly marsh
or like soft suspended pillows 
making themselves vulnerable
to the temperamental ways of the wind. 

Sometimes they seem almost helpless 
as they wander in a ghost like state
like wastrels, weighed down 
by the prospect of an impending storm. 

The yawning blue sky
has become quickly overwhelmed 
by clouds’ alluring apertures.
Now they collectively amass 
in billowing silence
crowding the vast 
sweeping hemisphere. 

Slanting sunlight breaks forth
to spar with clouds’ menacing shadows
that threaten to overtake the light
like competing shadow puppets
during a midday matinee. 

Clouds are endlessly breathtaking 
and appear seemingly mute 
except for faint whispers from the winds
as if time stopped to hold its breath
within the boundaries of earth and sky. 


4/18/2023
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Valles Avatar
July 19, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Another great piece. The imagery takes the reader on a visceral journey through the clouds. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Leiser Avatar
July 26, 2023 at 12:48 PM
Thank you, Tom! Happy you enjoyed this! :)
Stasukevich Avatar
May 27, 2023 at 12:43 PM
Wonderful, Laura. Thanks for sharing in our group meeting this morning. Excellent use of metaphor & personification, with a very good cadence for free verse. I like "reverent penitence" & "wastrels, weighed down" especially. I love it! A fav. Blessings ~John
Leiser Avatar
May 27, 2023 at 7:29 PM
Thank you for your kind comments, John! So happy you liked this one. I’m also excited that you are enjoying poetry, and have a natural gift for it, as well! :)
Daniel Avatar
May 9, 2023 at 2:30 AM
Awesome images, great description of "white whipped masses":)
Leiser Avatar
May 9, 2023 at 10:24 AM
Thank you, Joanna. Glad you liked this one! :)
Sambourne Avatar
April 26, 2023 at 7:25 PM
A fine poem, indeed, to the mysterious ways of clouds. I especially enjoyed phrases like "yawning blue sky" or "clouds alluring apertures." Sincerest regards, Brian
Leiser Avatar
April 27, 2023 at 5:48 AM
Thank you, Brian. I’m glad you stopped by and am happy you enjoyed this one! :)
Y. Avatar
April 23, 2023 at 12:12 PM
Wow! Laura, This is one of the best poems I've read on clouds. Each stanza stands alone and comes together so well. Excellent job. Congratulations on your win. It was well deserved. Have a nice day;-) Alexis
Leiser Avatar
April 25, 2023 at 9:07 AM
Thank you so much, Alexis. I’m so happy you enjoyed this one! :)
Agustin Avatar
April 20, 2023 at 7:25 AM
Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing this... delightful and delighting. God bless you.
Leiser Avatar
April 21, 2023 at 12:07 PM
Thank you, Beata! So happy that you liked this! God bless you, as well! :)
La France Avatar
April 20, 2023 at 7:16 AM
Laura, your poem is beautiful and wonderfully penned, I love it !
Leiser Avatar
April 21, 2023 at 12:11 PM
Thank you, Constance! I’m so glad you stopped by, and happy you enjoyed this one! :)
Canerdy Avatar
April 20, 2023 at 5:56 AM
Laura, this is an immensely enjoyable poem! CONGRATS on your well-deserved win. Janice
Leiser Avatar
April 21, 2023 at 12:12 PM
Thank you so much, Janice! I’m so happy you enjoyed this! :)
Rodrigues Avatar
April 19, 2023 at 2:30 PM
Such wonderful imagery! I love looking at clouds. Recently saw some cool clouds in Arizona! Nice poem, Laura <3
Leiser Avatar
April 19, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Thank you, Kim! So happy you liked this one! :)
McBride  Avatar
April 19, 2023 at 5:22 AM
Love it, this is when one is seeing the beauty around us to be seen, and not consumed of this world, but God's Majesty at work: )
Leiser Avatar
April 19, 2023 at 7:06 AM
Thank you, Stephan! I penned this while traveling by plane and observing the clouds as I gazed out the window. So glad you liked this! :)
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