Shift in Focus

A brass-rimmed magnifying glass rested across an open botanical book on the study desk, its thick convex lens warping the dark ink lines beneath. Curious about the shift in perspective, I planted my feet firmly on the polished wood and gripped the knurled metal handle with both hands. Hoisting the heavy frame upright took a steady shift in my balance. Working in deliberate increments, I angled the glass toward the window until the blurry drawing snapped into razor-sharp focus, magnifying the microscopic cross-hatching of a printed fern leaf. Bracing the brass rim securely against a glass inkwell to hold the focal point, I stepped back to study the sudden, perfect clarity. #Barbie