In the high sky
I saw Boreas’[1] crown
a rainbow halo of
celestial ice crystals.
Tufted feathery cirrus threads,
fibrous filaments, Pegasus’ pieces,
mare’s tails,
a dappled mackerel sky.

In the middle sky
daubed balls of cumulus cotton
and a translucent veil
of altostratus
drawn across a cerulean canvas.

In the low sky
a hazy horizon
steel-dark nimbostratus
storm-ridden murmurings
torn by bright flashes.

In the big sky
the giant cauliflower cumulus
and mushroom explosions of cumulonimbus.
Effervescent Everests.