The Overwhelming Sky

The overwhelming sky enthrals me
shows me its magic, fills me with glory
layers of stratus, piles of towering cumulus
cirrus lacing glazes overtop
neon pink icy scribbling on an evening horizon
fireworks sunsets, pale sleepy dawns
reds, yellows, purples, greens overwrite the blue and black
Gauguin, Picasso, Rothko must have felt this
The Starry Night is truth, no wonder Vincent suffered so
Genghis rode under this dome that encompasses all of our lives
did its pressure drive him to the cities for refuge rather than plunder?

The overwhelming sky appears to have no end
although I know that it is but the skin on the planet apple
it bears down on me, it conquers me
filling me up with its immensity
until I spill this burden of  words
to offer them as sacrificial token
to try to explain this hold
to bid to exorcise it
to seek release
but
it is the master of me

Copyright © 2017 Kim Whysall-Hammond

First published at Your One Phone Call