Lake Vapors

Poem by Claudette Bouman

Whirling, wispy whirlpools of vapor
crowding, wavy, rolling to the edge
Twisting, turning, soft, layered,
fine cotton dust
They crowd in upon each other
And then sweep up in a delicate storm
Turning over rising steeply,
curling forward
As waves upon a sea of clouds
Running in arranged row upon row,
A harmonic musical movement
Then they’re gentle, elegant ballerinas
competing for attention
Spectacular wisps of vapor.
And then sudden so, poof, gone
In a disappearing act.
A magician’s trick?
An optical illusion?
No, again no
Still more vapors, wisps,
and cottony trills
Everywhere, covering a lake of glass.

Digital version available here.