Buttermilk Sky
The bright winter sky is dappled with high clouds
The color of butter
The light and shadow play across the landscape
Light then dark
Then light
A dark shadow comes across my brow
And the grief returns to my heart
Though our lintel was marked
With lambs blood
Blessed with prayer
Adorned with mirrors
The dark angel still came
Her beauty, awful,
As she sat at our table
And the losses became uncountable
I wonder still when she will return,
Because, oh yes, she will return
Or perhaps, she is just waiting
Sitting on my porch step
Waiting for another shadow to form
My face again is in sunlight
The dappled clouds moving away from the sun
Casting shadows on the winter landscape
Bright in the buttermilk sky.
thecourseofourseasons 
what a stirring and vivid piece, Kathleen… I love the comparisons between sky and self – wonderful 🙂
intense loss, intense hope and beauty, lovely poem
it’s nice to believe there is a heart angel either there or waiting
hades gate
I’ve being paying a lot of attention to the winter’s sky lately and this is definitely better than my or any description I’ve read of it. Beautiful.
Thank you, Bill, I have been keeping up with your ‘wanderings’ thru the Ozarks – you have really been posting gorgeous photos. Thanks for dropping by! KI
The Mezuzah is meaningless magic
but terrific for tribalism
and better yet for beauty.
But the buttery sky is a better savior
that greets each generation that laments the last.
As blood smears the runway for new landings.
Great write, it made me think poetic.
What a wonderful response to this poem – thank you so very much – K
i love the butter clouds and buttermilk sky.. lots of emotions in this as well…glad that your face is in the sunlight again in the close..
Thank you very much, Claudia. K
Lovely
Thanks, Lorri! K
Oh a wonderful poem, the movement of shadows that cross the landscape of our lives such great images.
So happy you liked it – thanks! K
Simply wonderful!
Thank you for your kind words. K
I love the idea of a buttermilk sky… this is lovely.
Thank you so much, Laurie. K
The dark angel still came
Her beauty, awful…what interesting lines…i am glad you find the sun again in the end…that shadow will come but how cold it can be…the buttermilk clouds up front is a beautiful image…
Thanks, Brian, had considered putting this poem in the Angel Visitation line but like ‘Buttermilk Sky’ too much. I always appreciate your thoughtful words! K
dappled buttermilk sky works well with the grief as it doesn’t take over completely..nice ..
Thanks, Katy – thought the same – gave some balance to the emotions K
The dark angel seems to come and go in people’s lives; but hopefully the light can overcome!
I found you, Mary, lost amongst all the male enhancements. Now anyone who reads this will wonder about us! Thank you for letting me know and thanks for your time and comment. I appreciate it- K
Like the play of shadow and sunlight as grief returns to the heart ~
The turn at the end is lovely, facing sunlight, bright in the buttermilk sky ~
Thank you, Grace. K
The cycle of this poem is so lovely – the sky, the lintel, the grief, the churning — it works very well. k.
Thank you, k, it just fell out of the sky at your prompt. It was a thought provoking prompt and essay – I appreciate your time and caring spirit. K
Thanks so much. k.