I love living close to the weather
That was my thought tonight
as the tree outside the chapel
beat against the clerestory window
and blue gave way to gray.
I live where I can see
the edges of the bowl of sky
all the way to the Manzano
range miles away south.
Here clouds show off their stature
and pantomime myths for us
across a stage set with sage
and lit with rose gels at sunset
when the Sandias earn their name.
And even if wind and cumulus giants
threaten, then pass us by,
I am happy I can see
where the weather goes
and where it’s raining somewhere.
17 thoughts on "I love living close to the weather"
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This is beautiful, and it sounds like the sky out there is beautiful too.
There’s an expansiveness when you can see the horizon (beautifully rendered by “the edges of the bowl of sky”) that makes you feel more at one with the earth.
Beautiful !!
This is so beautiful. What a way to honor nature.
I love “relateable” poetry, poems that have me nodding and saying, “Yes,…yes…” The front windows of my apt face full west. I see it coming at me. LoL (On hot sunndy days, I close my curtain.)
And I like poems that set me wondering: What kind of tree is outside the chapel? I’m working on conjuring the image.
You mention myths, and I’m a “myth freak.” have been since the 4th grade when I was extremely ill and my mom read to me from a book of Greek myths. The poems in my MFA thesis project were inspired by women in myths and legends, so when you mention “pantomime myths,” I cannot help but wonder what myths you were thinking about when you wrote this lovely poem. What myths and legends are placed in or related to clouds? Thor? The Virgin Mary’s ascent? Ezekiel? Nephele? There are some interesting examples in Tibetan Buddhism of the importance of clouds, so many different Native American cultures include clouds.
Sorry this got long! As I said, I like poems the make me think! You’ve got me thinking. Thanks ever so much!
Thank you! I’m intrigued by the myths you list. I was thinking of how we see shapes, of course. And an old “Peanuts” cartoon, where Linus sees the “Stoning of St. Stephen” in the clouds, and Charlie Brown sees a ducky, a fish, etc.!
Nature heals us all.
I’m intrigued by the idea of a pantomine and stage (set with sage!)
Hey! with Manzano and the Sandias you’re speaking my language! I lived in Southern New Mexico for about 6 years before I moved to Tucson, the area around Albuquerque and Santa Fe is just gorgeous to me, I used to go hiking around the Cloudcroft / Sunspot area quite a lot too. monsoon in the southwest is something to be experienced!
Thanks! The mountains here in ABQ are a constant source of beauty!
Thank you! I’m intrigued by the myths you list. I was thinking of how we see shapes, of course. And an old “Peanuts” cartoon, where Linus sees the “Stoning of St. Stephen” in the clouds, and Charlie Brown sees a ducky, a fish, etc.!
love: the recurring theme of blue in your poems
edges of the bowl of sky/all the way to the Manzano/range
lit with rose gels at sunset/when the Sandias earn their name.
Oooh, the bowl of sky and rose gels are so unusual and perfect.
I love “I live where I can see/the edges of the bowl of sky”
Beautiful, Greg! It sounds like you are in a place of great natural beauty!
It’s a poem that blends being alone with generosity (“I am happy I can see where the weather goes
and where it’s raining somewhere.”) The two ideas may not seem mutually inclusive, but they work here. Love it.
I love this thought–
“I am happy I can see
where the weather goes”
Too often, in this hilly river valley, I feel ambushed. Sky is important.