Flying Lesson

Focus on the shapes. Cirrus, a curl,

stratus, a layer, cumulus, a heap.

Humilis, a small cloud,

cumulus humilis, a fine day to fly.

Incus, the anvil, stay grounded.

Nimbus, rain, be careful,

don’t take off near nimbostratus,

a shapeless layer

of  rain, hail, ice, or snow.

Ice weighs on the blades of  your propeller,

weighs on the entering edge of your wings.

Read a cloud,

decode it,

a dense, chilly mass

can shift, flood with light.

Watch for clouds closing under you,

the sky opens in a breath,

shuts in a heartbeat.