New Poetry by Richard King Perkins II

Flesh Reverie

I don’t remember what you said that first night—
tenuously in light extinguished,
the curving pleasure of incalculable intimacy.

I’m learning to enjoy the soft rain
and the tenuous tresses on my skin
as you fill my lungs with color and gratification.

The dissonance of our carillon
splinters the metaphor we thought we were—
strains of human moonlight swooped upon earth.

But this is only the other side of something blue.
We’ve become a distortion of understanding,
advocates of a ruthless love begging mercy.

You tell me that you think we deserve a testament
filled with burgeoning powerful clarity like we found
last night in the flesh reverie that could only be now.


- Richard King Perkins II 2016

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 three-time Pushcart nominee and a Best of the Net nominee whose work has appeared in more than a thousand publications.