Mammatus

Mammatus the Sky Baker

She who brings the clouds.

She rolls them out and bakes them up like bread.  Sometimes she rolls out biscuits and cuts them up round.  Sometimes they are big and fluffy dinner rolls.  Sometimes they are soupy, lumpy dumplings - these the science people call mammatus clouds, her namesake.  Sometimes she loads the loaf up with whatever is handy and turns on the mixer- look out for high speed spinning clouds!  She feels all her emotions because she is untamed.  She dances to her own music, except when she dances with Tornintak, her restless, passionate husband.

When she rests the sky is clear, the sun dances on the earth, or the wind spreads hot dust from the west over the land.  Or in winter when her blanket of clouds rolls up, the north wind blows and deep cold rolls in.  Her clouds in winter make a blanket that keeps sun-warmth in.  In summer they are shelter from the sun.  It is her clouds that paint the twilight sky with beauty.  The sun gets all the credit, but without her clouds there would be no variety, no art.

Look to the sky to see what Mamma is baking today.  Thin pastry? Thick, rising loaves?  Or maybe she is done for a moment and she cleans up first all the dough til only the flour is left, then wipes the sky clear so we can enjoy the stars.

(UKV)