Altostratus

I am all that is, till the rain ends.
The land is a cutting board to me.
I scar her gently. She doesn’t resist.

You are too small to see how she takes me:
In pity. How will you know what real tears are?

Up and down are the only ways for mankind.
Up and down, to not be lost in the old dying
creosote of life, slowly dying and widening,
a frozen hurricane.

Up and down, but the land’s too big for you.
You know how we love skyscrapers, and deep pits
to well with water, ringing with our song.

Up and down it is with us too.
So you know why the land
takes me with a smile.

So you see how I cling to her.
How I cry but never thunder.
How my trembling voice trickles
slowly and circuitously
back to the ocean.