The Weight of Clouds

Free Verse Poem

i touch flame to paper
pull hand-rolled tobacco
smoke into my lungs
and watch ash fall
through smoked lenses

i stand atop the pyramid
facing the volcano—
the volcano hidden
by clouds of ash and water vapor—
and wonder 

how many more breaths 
will pass between my lips

i stand atop the pyramid
whipping winds ring church bells
thunder cracks the heavens
women walking be…