the clouds

don't the clouds
look religious today
the woman says to her
child as they ride
along the highway.
but he's busy with
his ice cream
licking and gnawing
at the bottom of the cone
where it drips out
in dark drops. he's
strapped into the back
seat. his nose
sticky and full of
chocolate. look at those
clouds, she says
again to him, finding
his eyes in the rear
view mirror. you can
almost see the angels
up there, can't you?
that's the difference
between me and your
father, she says. i
appreciate beauty. i see
how wonderful things are
when you take time
to notice. look at those
clouds, she says.
her hands red and tight
around the wheel.
oh my. oh my.