Blue skies, white clouds lightly polished

In dying evening sunlight

Flicker into my room, unlit

Even as the evening deepens—

Parted from the night’s onset, birds’ last

Chips and chirps, I rage,

Rage against the windowpane

Until my ragged, indoor cough calms me.

-

Sedately, I manage to glare at the clouds—

Floating ships on waxy, golden seas,

Shadowing the sailor’s journey.

Envious, I follow the clouds anxiously,

Grudging them every glance of ship’s mast,

Every wave tossed against a steel bow.

Another cough stirs in my throat,

And I flick on my desk’s electric light.