the day before a storm

i looked out of the window

and saw

the sky washed with

heavenly hues of colour--

peach pink trickled down 

from an apricot orange

teasing out the softest lavenders

and richest lilacs

and it was almost as if

the city wanted a share

as the colours raced down

the jagged metal spires

built to reach the sky,

not quite reaching the ground.

and as cliched as it sounds

it was as if an invisible hand 

was unravelling 

tufts of tinted cotton candy

sprinkling the sugary wool upon the

ash-tainted streets and drooping heads,

as if the sweetness could chase away

the blandness of 

monochrome

the next day,

the sky collected its colour

and its cotton candy clouds

draped itself 

in the greys and blacks

of mourning

and cried.

i could not help but wonder

if it was pity or punishment.