SPRING BREAK

By April Halprin Wayland
The best clouds in the business
          are right above me
right now.

We’re riding in this teal convertible
          those clouds just dozing
          in about forty-nine different shapes
          white as clean paper,
          their edges like feathers against the blue sky,
blue as Dad’s eyes.

Dad drives, my sister’s in front
          I lay my head on Mom’s lap in the back.
          I lay my head on her lap as he drives
          this teal convertible that we rented special
just for these four days in Albuquerque.

In it, we are open to the whole world
          to the whole sky
          and I know right now
          I can see
          that these are 
the best clouds in the business.

Copyright Credit: April Halprin Wayland, "SPRING BREAK" from Girl Coming in for a Landing: A Novel in Poems. Copyright © 2002 by April Halprin Wayland.  Reprinted by permission of April Halprin Wayland.
Source: Girl Coming in for a Landing: A Novel in Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 2002)