I try deciphering the sky's patterns:
what blue means against grey, how much
white gathers over rust-colored hills
at which time of day, before night
plunges everything into uniform
darkness. Homebound during power
outages as storms lashed at windows,
to pass the hours sometimes we'd spin
cerveza bottles on the table when we
played cards, told fortunes, or asked
questions answerable by yes or no.
Who its amber neck pointed to
as it came to rest was the lucky or
unlucky one. But the future is never
a transparent sheet— more like a plain
brown manila envelope with a seal
that someone shoves under the door
with a warning not to open it until
it's time. But when is the right time,
and what will you find should you open
the flap and bring its contents nearer
the blue flame to read what it says?