That night, I stood opposite of Cassiopeia

reading for her as she smiled at me, iciness

separating us. I floated from her grasp

into outer space,

steam rising,

naked, exposed.

 

Orion hovered, casting a shadow

over her love, eyes locking with mine.

I sipped from the Big Dipper,

and spent 84 years traveling with Uranus.

I dated Aquarius,

befriended Ursa Minor, that lovable bear,

surfed on the rings of Jupiter,

laughing without a sound. I danced a slow dance

with each of Saturn’s moons, taking a bow after the ninth

set me free. My muted mouth moving, wordless.

 

The queen gazed in the mirror

as I backfloated through the Milky Way.