I am the Sky – a poem by Claire Coenen

I am the Sky
 
You are the sky. Everything else – it's just the weather.
—Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart
 
If I am the sky,
the lightning bolts
and tornadoes
of my mind
cannot burn me
or turn me
upside down.
 
If I am the sky,
I do not resist
the wildfires,
hurricanes,
or fog in
my brain.
 
If I am the sky,
I allow
pillowy clouds,
rainstorms,
and stars
 
to rise,
to move,
 
to say
goodbye.

Claire Coenen is a writer and social worker living in Nashville, TN, where she teaches expressive writing. Her debut collection, The Beautiful Keeps Breathing, is forthcoming with Kelsay Books in spring 2025.