Shadows of the clouds

The shadows of the clouds
trace the earth.
They carry no will,
only the act of passing.

What humans have made
is shaped from iron, fire, and reason.
Spoken of as protection,
it is sharpened for war.

Nature makes no argument.
Mountains stand.
The sea rises and falls.
Clouds cast their shadows.
There are no enemies, no allies.

Between these contrasts
An angel stands still—
no sword in hand,
wings folded,
a sorrow too deep for words.

The shadows of the clouds
move on again today.
Only the shadows made by humans
remain upon the ground.