Cloud Appreciation Society The Cloud Appreciation Society came to my attention from the Idler just before they were a Yahoo 2005 pick for "wacky and weird (or something like that). Gavin Pretor-Pinney who is the founder also founded the Idler. I submitted an earlier version of a poem to them called "how humans get to heaven."

I published the longer version on Portable Poetry Portal which is republished here

Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Spirit in the Sky

I could not help but be inspired by the contradictions that clouds pose for scientists as the site Cloud Appreciation Society so aptly displays. After leaving 30+ years of a science career behind, I finally understand it takes poetry to explain the affinity of humans for clouds.

How Humans Get to Heaven

 Men make photographs of their shapes
 Make them appear like objects of gravity
 We animals descended from the apes
 Are captives and makers of earth’s depravity 

Writing a formula for a cloud is pointless
When we think we have it right
It vaporizes and mocks our foolishness
Exposed and basking in blue light

Water is such a common thing for thus
It takes a cold day to expose our breath
Show us that clouds are spirits within us
Whose airy domain transcends our death

  ¶ 12:57 PM