​Luke Howard, Namer of Clouds  
Carol Ann Duffy

Eldezar and Asama Yama, 1783,
erupted violently; a Great Fogg
blending incredible skies over Europe.
In London, Luke Howard was ten.
The sky’s lad then.

                               Smitten,
he stared up evermore; saw
a meteor’s fiery spurt,
the clamouring stars;
what the moon wouldn’t do;
but loved clouds most-
dragons and unicorns;
Hamlet’s camels, weasels and whales;
the heads of heroes;
the sword of Excalibur, lit
by the setting sun.  
                             Mackerel sky,
mackerel sky, not long wet,
not long dry.

                    And knew
love goes naming,
even a curl of hair - thus, Cirrus.
Cumulus. Stratus. Nimbus.


Carol Ann Duffy was Britain's Poet Laureate from May 2009 to 2019.