from Fieldnotes

VI

In the way father invites mother's ghost 
out to the garden 
after supper the crows

after blessing the ground for hours
want a word with me 

I know I know —
all this talk of talking to the dead
and not one word of them talking back

When you said Forgive me I've gone
and told you far too much 

the eldest of the five hellebores
she had planted 

the day before she died 
livened just a little 

IV

Some nights her name 
comes bounding down the canyon

its music known to root 
you stories deep

Born still my twin 
hastens to sing when frightened 

and if we're ever freed I pray 
to two of us 

dissolve over 
the sheriff's prized cherry trees 

then recompose soon 
after thereby 

totaling seven —
the half here half there number 

VIII

Some nights the people made of ash 
in the dream I have 
yet to name 

are led to safety
the tulip and black dove unite 
as do the queen 

and sun who first condemned them
Whistle says father 
when cleaning out the stalls  

but never when leading 
a lamb to slaughter 
This and only this 

will I leave you
This my life's law and practice  

X

Into the opening only I was thrown
my hat and boots
the valley’s now

And like the others
living underground words like
carry meant absence

covering the eyes
with the right hand
meant more water or I need more time

and don’t get me started on the squall
that hit or how it winnowed
down the surrounding

trees to mere slivers
the way out to the scent of wet straw
Not only are we born

dreaming says father
but we are both dreamers and dream
the two of us coatless

the fence nearly
mended the horses
grazing still at the far end of the field

ξ

Tommy Archuleta's work has appeared in the New England Review, Laurel Review, Lily Poetry Review, and The Cortland Review. His full-length debut collection entitled, Susto, is slated for release April 2023 through the Center for Literary Publishing as a Mountain/West Poetry Series title. Also forthcoming Spring of 2023 from Lily Poetry Review & Press is his first chapbook, Fieldnotes.