Eighth Magnitude Decline

In a chilblain forest
a clearing admits the passage of moonlight

as the white bells of snowdrops
crackle slightly beneath your eyes.

Your naked vision finds Neptune,
the faintest of captured pearls

even in its eighth magnitude decline.
Beneath the rise of your uplifted chin

a Lenten rose emerges
mistaking your flesh for the first sign of spring.

***

Richard King Perkins II is a state-sponsored advocate for residents in long-term care facilities. He lives in Crystal Lake, IL, USA with his wife, Vickie and daughter, Sage. He is a ten-time nominee for the Pushcart, Best of the Net and Best of the Web awards. His work has appeared in more than fifteen hundred publications.