The Backdrop

From space, they’re in the foreground.
In ground photos, they’re backdrops.
You expect them to be there,

Although many desert days,
Or in the doldrums, even
Sometimes near coasts, not at all.

They used to be heavenly,
Ferrying gods and angels,
Hiding glories. Now you know

They’re thin, altogether thin,
All the layers of them. Watch.
It takes patience to watch long.

Important, unimportant,
The backdrop’s always moving.