AS ONE WOULD SAY . . .

photoart: karen mcclintock

AS ONE WOULD SAY, GO FORWARD MY FRIEND

by Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal

Luis Omar Salinas

walks through the hills of Spain

in a dream.

Miguel Hernandez walks at his side.

In the quiet night

they listen to

mockingbirds

softly singing.

Salinas says

to Hernandez,

I need to be alone.

Go forward, my friend, says Hernandez.

Luis Omar contemplates death.

He knows Hernandez is

a ghost, but also a

helpful guide and friend.

Hernandez walks away whistling.

Luis Omar looks to the sky.

There is a full moon.

He feels at home.

His dream takes him

to Central California.

His hands are calloused

and mulberry trees

appear in the distance.

Hernandez is with him again.

They are children playing

with imaginary swords

in a dusty field.

No one draws blood

in this dream like heaven.

Hernandez and Salinas say goodbye.

Miguel Hernandez walks

through the hills of Spain;

Luis Omar strolls

under a Fresno moon.

~  first published in Pemmican