UPON A CLOUD, I WISHED

UPON A CLOUD,  I WISHED

Of the many memories, a childhood holds
The one that lingers, unspools, unfolds
Is a carefree child, lying buried in grass 
Unvexed with life, uncuffed of class
Gazing at a cerulean sky
Watching a host of clouds float by

Each fluffy cloud had a distinct shape

Some looked like elephants, some like apes

That would morph into a different form

Masters of will and not of norm

As they passed before my curious eyes

On God’s blue canvas, up in the skies

These cotton clusters, fodder for my mind

Each floating figure, a character assigned

And thus a story would begin to weave 

Of aerial battles, of pirates and thieves 

Conjuring up implausible plots

As I lay there and just joined the dots

But of the many matinee shows I saw

One day the skies looked grey and flawed

As my spirits dampened and gloom beset

A lightning struck, emerged a vignette

Of a star shaped mass that was shining

Almost telling me, that even the darkest clouds

Have a silver lining!    

                                      - Priti Singh