It came bubble wrapped,
in an envelope marked ‘fragile’.
And even as I lifted it out
some pieces broke off
and floated up to the ceiling.
They’re still there now.
The rest was as you’d expect.
Fluffy. Whitish-greyish.
But at the centre
nothing.
I looked for a while;
gently pulled it apart.
Turned the envelope
upside down: still nothing.
Washed it. Wrung it out.
Hung it out.
Still nothing.
It was then that I saw it:
the small print, right
at the bottom:
Some clouds may not
contain a silver lining.