The Somber Power of Clouds

The Somber Power of Clouds David J Walker I A slice of our bumbling childhoods Tumbling from a moments nowhere The secrets left unnamed yet stained In the blush of our innocent shame I am old and want to know How long do these fires smolder? Older Older? II The instructions were in my pocket As instructed Locked in a silver locket As promised Mother kept the key somewhere She would find it someday She said Someday Somewhere III The Winters fire meant nothing Until the cold was colder and The snow bordered on the first step Of the stoop Who last used the snow shovel? I asked as if I didn’t know The fire would have to wait and I would have to go IV The somber power of the clouds Hour by hour Passing overhead to Somewhere else Reshaping and making themselves Into something else They are nothing but gas Said Father And nudged the hoe into my hands To tend the garden