"Above the ___, as high as heaven itself?": Shak.

CLOUDS

["Think of what floats in the sky, often white and fluffy, blocking the sun."]

This clue references a line from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," where the phrase "above the clouds" is used to describe something lofty or heavenly. The word "clouds" fits the blank and completes the poetic imagery of height and grandeur. The abbreviation "Shak." signals that the quote comes from Shakespeare, guiding solvers to think of his works. The answer is straightforward once you recognize the literary reference.