Spirit Cloud

A cloud stopped by to visit          
On the road from the distant hill
The wine glass sang half empty
Laughter slogged in a sea of chill          

Icy breeze spoke of the dead
While home disappeared in the night
Tormented slept uneasy
Haphazard continued the fight

In the nearby predawn hour
Lightning scorched the city of proud
The voice of thunder shouted
Despair covered hope with a shroud

Hourglass sand ran a river          
Past islands of domino days
The wounded heart healed over
Clawed a pathway through mindless haze

The cloud stirred up remorseful
Through surf to the sea swam away
Leaving alone my shattered soul
Puzzling mismatched shards of clay