THE PASSING CLOUDS

cloud smoke reveals the bright moon
blows to the north
the air clearing this night
after today’s dull heavy gray
low clouds rain slush
and weary
aching at the bones
with thick swollen joints
and every glance out the window
another tug with the barometer
my lids lower
with the rain creeping
from the sill to brown snow mounds
one glance to the sky
in this chill dripping night
a spark of light