Dora Sigerson Shorter’s “Clouds” uses the changing sky to mirror an inner emotional shift. In the first stanza, the speaker is full of laughter and song, feels life is fair, and sees white clouds in a bright sky. Then the mood darkens without clear cause: the speaker frowns and grows silent, insists on being guiltless, while the lark falls and grey clouds gather. By the final stanza, happiness has turned to weariness and tears; life feels dreary, love seems wasted, and the sky has become black night. The poem captures how quickly a mood can descend from joy to despair, often without an obvious reason. The shifts in weather and light give the speaker’s sadness a quiet, natural inevitability.
Clouds — Summary
Laughter and song for my cheer, Life is so fair. None so happy as I Anywhere ; Birds in the woods carol clear, White clouds in the sky.
Song silent and brow with a frown, Why is this so ? Guiltless am I Would you know, The lark from the heavens drops down ; Grey clouds in the sky.
Sighing and tears for my sorrow, Life is so drear, None so weary as I, 'Tis a mere Waste of love, and a wish for to-morrow- Black night in the sky.