The Unexpected

Posted on by jonicaggiano

I am not alone for my breath follows me
It is jealous of my shadow
Songs of sirens echo from the distant sea

Stone figures with hollow eyes are crying
Lilly pads are resting now
Tears on an old love letter are gently sighing

A fledgling’s delicate wings are still growing
My soul weeps for unknowns
The earth hugs my feet its energy flowing

Masses huddle under cardboard roofs inside
Sun low, skin rests from baking
A man places his mothers’ ring on his bride

My heart abides upon my ordinary sleeve
Scars now cover old ruptures
Aging arms swing the tentacles of the trees

Gardenia blossoms in a circle on golden hair
Angels gather their fragrance
During dusk, it is given to the poor to share

Afraid to blink for in that second I might miss
the unexpected ups and downs
I inhale, oh thank You, Dear God, that I exist

Written by Joni May 1, 2020

 

Photo by Joni Caggiano

52 thoughts on “The Unexpected”

  1. Splendid Joni. Atmospheric. A sense of sadness beautifully versed. The wedding ring from one women to another. Life goes on inside your verses. A sense of longing. An old love letter.
    Really an extraordinary poem.
    Stay blessed. Inspire us.
    Love and hugs to you honeybun
    🤗❤️🌸💕💐🌿

    Reply

    1. Oh I am so glad you like it Button that pleases me. Thank you for your kind words. Such thoughtful comments sweet Button. Have a wonderful and blessed weekend my dear friend. Lots of love coming your way. Honeybun 😘 xoxoxo

      Reply

      1. I love the poem Joni. It’s incredibly beautiful. It is meaningful. It has depth. It was a pleasure to read it.
        Sending you lots of love and hugs to honeybun.
        xoxoxox
        G( button)

      2. Oh thank you so much Button. I am really glad you liked it. I will share a secret with you. Try listening to “The Wheat, Elysian, and Honor Him from the Gladiator soundtrack and see what your imagination brings to life. I bet it would be so gorgeous. Love you Beautiful Button. Yours honeybun xoxoxo.

      4. I think you will be surprised at the magic. Of course I often pray that God will help me write something that pleases him. Excited to hear what you think. Masking up for grocery store. Have a wonderful time Button. Love you honeybun

  3. Beautifully crafted and written. A lyrical reverence that begs being read in whisper and hushed tones. Descriptively vibrant and full. I love the form and flow. Great poem, Joni! ❤❣❤

    Reply

    1. Wow thanks Brad that is very high praise I am really flattered. I am so glad you liked it. It is so funny to me how I can agonize over a poem for several days and I don’t like it and then I can spend an hour after a prayer and some music and the words come to me. Thank you for your kindness and support Brad. It means so much. Love and hugs 🤗 Joni

      Reply

      1. Inspiration is not something we find. It is a gift and we rarely know how it will be delivered. Love sent with my words! ❣😁

      2. Thank you Brad. My love coming back from NC. It is a gift you are right. God gave me my gift. I started writing at thirteen when my life was in constant danger. It was a release for me. Gifts are meant to be shared I believe and I am blessed by so many writers on WordPress. Feeling really blessed today. Hope you are having a special day today my friend as well. I appreciate your reading and commenting on my blog Brad it means a lot and I certainly enjoy your posts as well. Especially this morning. Love 💕 Joni

    1. My mom use to tell me I wore my heart on my sleeve. She was right. I can’t hide my feelings and I am a terrible liar. Just don’t like to be dishonest. Love you Rhen. Hope you have a blessed sabbath. 🌸🌺😘

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      2. Yes I am so much better than I use to be but it goes with too many years of abuse as a little child. I feel so safe now but it is still a heart worn on a tender and ordinary sleeve. Love you sweet sister have a lovely Sabbath. Joni 😘❤️💕

      5. We are sisters indeed–Joni, I think of you often throughout my days, and pray…since I don’t know where the thoughts are coming from (sometimes it’s my own insecurity, thinking I’m inferior to you somehow). Anyway, love you much! <3

      6. It is nice to know you think of me as I think of and pray for you. I am not better than anyone Rhen. I am just different in my own way and how God has shaped me over the years. I am so blessed but my life was extremely hard for many years. I believe we should be grateful for everything God does for us. He is wonderful to me. However God talks a lot about how it is not an easy world for those faithful to him. So I am no different then you my friend. Love and hugs dear Rhen. 🌺🌸❤️🌺

      7. Your lovely words always ring true, Joni. Thanks for chatting with me here–much love to you! God’s unconditional and unfailing love is what drew me to Him–closer and closer all the time.

      12. My apologies, I didn’t see this comment until just now. I chatted with an accommodating person on WordPress for about an hour to understand how I could be missing comments.

        I found out today that WordPress limits the number of notifications you can have (a relatively small amount that’s not configurable). If I don’t respond to comments quickly (which includes new posts on every site I follow), it is likely to drop off. This means I won’t see a comment at all, as I have reached my limit, and the comment drops off.

        I should be able to bypass this limitation by checking the comment section of my WordPress account on the computer many times a day. Please accept my apology, and I sincerely hope you have a blessed and fantastic day!

        Love you Rhen

      14. Oh thank you sweet Rhen. I do love you. You sent another message about my husband and believe me he appreciated your being a Facebook friend. He knows we are friends, that you live in WA and not that far from my daughter, plus we pray together too. You are a dear and he thought it was very sweet that you sent him a request. I got off of Facebook because of all the negativity. I just don’t have time to write, read all the people I love to read and do other important things like study the Bible. I really need God’s word in my day because I know I will be fine what ever happens but it is stressful going out, running into people who are not self distancing here. I am not use to people wearing guns in front of stores that kind of thing upsets me. I am sure you probably know it is really bad in the South now, in terms of the virus. By the way I can’t tell you enough how much I am grateful to be in your loving prayers as you are in mine. Have a blessed evening my friend. I love you. Joni ❤️💕🤗😘

      15. I may forget a lot of things, but each night God hears my prayers for the “blog family” 🙂 <3 It's a scary world out there…but we have a refuge, JESUS–and I'm locked down In Him, only going out for groceries. My Bible-time is the BEST part of my day!! I only check FB a couple times a week, if that–as I follow a number of good pastors. Take care of you and Scott–much love<3

      16. Thanks for the very sweet message Rhen. We are no longer going to church catching our Sunday service on YouTube. I will take good care of my honey as he does me. You stay safe as well my friend. Love and prayers coming your way ❤️💕🤗🙏

  5. Joni, congratulations on a very beautiful poem…you have really used the precise words to create long lasting images. It flows perfectly. Lovely poem Joni. Hoping you are good and wishing you a lovely weekend!
    All the best,
    Francisco

    Reply

    1. Oh thank you my dear friend. I am grateful you liked it. Sometimes I pray and God helps to lead me in my writing with words that I hope will share my love for him. Thank you also Francisco for being such a positive and loving friend during these crazy times. I love your zest for life and your positivity my friend. You are a gem. Love, blessings, and hugs from our family here in NC. 💕 Joni

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      1. Thank you Joni, we all have to nourish our positive mind, prayers, and love. Wishing you and your family all the best. Stay safe and all the best to you. Your work is beautiful, inspirational, and shows very clearly your devotion to God.
        WIth love from Spain,
        Francisco

    1. Hi sweet Bulbul I am so glad you liked it my friend. Thank you for your kindness sweet Bulbul. Have a blessed and wonderful weekend and Sabbath. Love 💕 you Joni

      Reply
  8. Pingback: The Unexpected (reblog) - Reflection of My Journey

    1. Wow, what a sweet thing to do. Thank you so very much my friend. Love, hugs, appreciation and blessings coming your way. Joni 🌸🌺❤️💕

      Reply

  9. Since God is anywhere, we are liable to find sacred spaces in unexpected places, even a cemetery. The scars covering “old ruptures” are proof that we have healed and moved on. The verse “Gardenia blossoms in a circle on golden hair Angels gather their fragrance During dusk, it is given to the poor to share” is stunningly beautiful. You use language so gracefully, Joni. Your very life is an illustration of God’s own grace. That you somehow managed to survive all you had to endure is a triumph. Have a joyful week, my friend. May God watch over you always. Love, A. <3

    Reply

    1. You have brought tears of love to my eyes Anna. I had forgotten this poem. My best work is when I pray for God to help me to write something that will touch others. I am so glad you liked this piece and I think I may repost it soon.

      Yes we have healed, I agree by the Grace of God
      we survived and contributed the gifts He gave us. Look at the good you did with your career Anna. You giving legal representation to those who could not afford it for free. No small task.

      Thank you always for your loving support Anna and I too pray God watches over you and your family always. Love you J ❤️

      Reply

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