Under Dark Skies

R.H. Booker

June 7, 2026

Well before dawn I rise 

to prepare the equipment

used to measure 

the migration of each morning.

An initial bortle reading of 2.9, 

followed by a sky brightness reading 

of 21.71 mag/arcsec2

attempts to 

quantify the qualitative,

that the lack of moon 

and civilization

opens up the floor

for the galaxy herself 

to cast shadows.

R.H. Booker graduated from A&M, served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, and lives outdoors as a wildlife biologist. His poetry has appeared, or is forthcoming, in the San Antonio Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Lucky Jefferson, and others.