My Poem Published in the Tiny Seed Literary Journal

Posted on by jonicaggiano
Poem by Joni Caggiano – Photograph by Laith Abushaar from Unsplash

My poem in the “Facing the fire” edition

I Fear The Dragon

upside down is my worldly existence; my skin’s coating stinks of fear

like a piece of chicken dusted heavy with self-rising flour

consumed with my utter dread of the red dragon who breathes fire

her hair brittle from bleaching, broken blood vessels speckle her face

often tied to the bed with a washcloth in her mouth, he puts her there

she is the creator of fire, burning bright, threatening life and our air

Please continue reading my poem at the Tiny Seed Journal

To read more of The Tiny Seed Journal Facing The Fire Edition 

46 thoughts on “My Poem Published in the Tiny Seed Literary Journal”

  1. This work is incredible. Vivid images in my mind’s eye. For me, it evoked tears. This is an amazing work that gives us a glimpse into a childhood world of pain. It’s so powerful.

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    1. Thank you so much dear friend. I appreciate your gracious words and your thoughtful comment. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Sending you love. 🤗💕❤️🦋 love Joni

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    1. todah rabah my friend. Yes I agree it is very intense. I have an unrealistic fear of fire as my parents would get
      drunk and catch parts of the house on fire. This was mostly done by my mother. God really protected me as a child. I really appreciate your reading Ben. Have a truly blessed day. Love, hugs and blessings. 💕❤️Joni

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    1. I was so afraid of her until I was seventeen and I still worried about fire because falling to sleep in their beds drunk with lit cigarettes which they did was scary. It meant waiting for them to fall asleep and then tip toeing in to try and get the cigarettes without waking them up. You are afraid of everything. Once I got my car which I was going to school and working a lot, I
      had a way to get away.
      Thank you for reading. I love and have forgiven them both they had alcoholism. They were both gone before I was thirty. Thank you for reading my friend. This isn’t an easy one and I am glad you felt the emotion. Sending love and hugs to you and your family. 🤗💕❤️🦋Joni

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      1. Writing is so therapeutic, even when we may not be writing for that purpose. Have you written before and actually felt a physical draining of the very emotion you are writing about? I’m so sorry for that fear you lived through, but your heart and generosity seems to have grown strong from it.

      2. You are so kind. Yes, especially when I was still experiencing the abuse. I also wrote two books about my experiences growing up and that really helped get everything out.
        Thank you for your very kind words and support. I am so much stronger, empathetic and intuitive because of the abuse. I have such a blessed life as well. Thank you very much. Have a truly wonderful weekend. Sending love to you. 💕❤️🤗🦋Joni

    1. You are so sweet Katy. You should enter an art piece with a poem and you could get published if you wanted to. Your work is brilliant. You are so sweet to read my work my friend. Sending love. 💕❤️🦋Joni

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      1. Oh gosh!!! Reading Your words is a GIFT and a PLEASURE!!! SERIOUSLY!!! Thank You for Your continued sweetness! That You say that about my work makes me smile. Maybe I’ll give it a shot someday. Sending You a hug like the sky on a perfect summer day!!! Love You, sweet Joni. 💖💖💖

      2. Awe, my dear sweet friend you are a pearl from the sea. You are so gifted so your beautiful words about my work is very special. Thank you. You should give it a shot my friend. You would be surprised that your work is golden and everyone can feel it.

        I feel that warm hug. Thank you and love you right back. You two have fun this weekend. 🤗💕❤️💝🦋🐉🐉

      3. 💖💖💖💖🤗💖💖💖💖 times a gazillion quadrodillion!!! And thank You so very much, beautiful Joni!!! I hope Y’all have a wonderful week! 🤗

  6. Oh Lord. I’m back. Lord have Mercy. I am so sorry. Bless Your crazy beautiful heart. Raw. Naked. There it is. Thank You. I’m sending so much Love Your way…🤗❤️🙏🏼

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    1. Thank you my friend that stuff happened a long time ago. I do have an unnatural fear of fire. All that crazy stuff made me the flower I am today. That is how I attract so many fairies and fireflies. See all along you thought I was a person. I am catching all your wonderful love my sweet friend. By the way is it cold there yet? It is getting really cold here in the am then warms up quite a bit. Sending you and your honey love. 💕❤️🤗Joni

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      1. AH!!! Flower You are, indeed!!! And yes…we have all had to walk our specific paths and they have gifted us in ways untold even if outwardly they were harsh teachers. And how funny!!! I wrote in a poem I posted very early this morning that we are all flowers!!! We’re floating on the same wave length! Yay! Smiling soooo big! And of course You’re a magnet for fireflies and fairies. On the weather front….YES and YAY! FINALLY there has been a nip to the air and downright coldness the past couple of weeks. I love it. Sending You and Your honey Love right back!!! 🤗❤️😊

      2. You are so right about the gifts we get from our struggles. Flowers, what a beautiful thought. I am going straight there as soon as I read the rest of my comments. I am sure that will be a wonderful piece. What a lovely and creative idea my dear Katy. Yes I love all my little friends. When I was very young I would write fairies and leave the letters under my pillow and I did that for years.
        I wondered if it was cold there. It was in the twenties yesterday morning. I too enjoy the winters here. I like to picture you in your gorgeous car or walking by that angel tree. Sending y’all lots of love. 🤗💕❤️🐉🐉

      3. Ok. I am LOVING that You used to leave letters for the fairies under Your pillow. That is one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard! Of COURSE You did!!! Sigh. Wow. Beyond lovely!!! 💖🧚🏽💖 And WHAT?!!! In the twenties??? You win by far! It got that cold here about 5 years ago….which was a strange event! Nah….we’ve only been down to 34 at night so far….and MAY get a night or 2 of freezing. We lost power for about 4 or 5 days when it got so crazy cold! The island was covered with heavy ice everywhere and it downed trees which downed power lines all over the place. But man! It as so pretty!!! And SOOOOO cold!!! 😂 Sending Y’ll lots of Love right back!!! 💖💖💖

  7. Intense, vivid, and clear what you survived, Joni. You are a strong soul and you clearly have a mission to speak up for others tortured. Abuse needs to be addressed, it’s been avoided too long. Keep writing my friend, your gift is special! 🥰💕

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    1. Tiffany thank you for your very kind words and for your continued support. Thank you for understanding why it is important to talk about it. I am blessed and God blesses me everyday so my life is wonderful. However everyone doesn’t have the resources for therapy, some people are so isolated they don’t even understand that this behavior is normal when living and experiencing the abuse. We were very isolated which is common. There was a period of time when I was very little that I thought my parents were robots because my mind couldn’t understand anyone being so cruel. So thank you for understanding. No one should ever feel sorry for me as I have an awesome life with so many blessings but I also have a responsibility, I can tell that you understand this.

      I hope you know just how gifted you are Tiffany your work is amazing and such a multitalented young woman. Yea!!!! Have lots of blessings today as you have certainly blessed me. Love you 🤗💕❤️Joni

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  8. My dearest honeybun,
    A very powerful piece indeed. It awakes all senses. It hits like a tons of bricks. I am in awe. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo. You are a splendid writer. Congratulations!

    I hope you are enjoying your evening.
    Love you
    G (Honeybun)

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    1. Thank you my dearest Button. You are so kind and your comments touch my heart so deeply. I am so glad you could feel and sense it’s impact.

      I hope you are getting better and that you are finally on break. I hope you have an amazing weekend and that you can rest. Sending you so much love Button.
      Yours, honeybun
      ❤️💕💝🤗🌹🌷🦋🙏

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      1. My pleasure honeybun. You deserve plenty of praise. Your writing is fabulous. I hope your day shines. Sending you love and waiting to read more pieces from you.
        G ( Button)

      2. Thank you Button. I appreciate you so much. Your gracious words about my writing mean so very much to me. I have been submitting to other places. I am still waiting to hear from two places. I have another poem coming out in this magazine for winter. I write her has three of my pieces and then there were some rejections but I don’t let that stop me. So I have been working hard. I sure know you have been. I love you Button. Be very safe. Hugs and blessings,
        Honeybun

      3. My pleasure honeybun. Congratulations on the upcoming pieces ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Don’t even think about rejections.
        Love you and I wish you good luck with all my heart 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌷

  9. Joni, you capture poignantly the fear and anguish of an abused child caught between two dysfunctional parents — the child who must serve as an adult to save her own life and theirs. I am so glad your work is gaining recognition. You well deserve that. Love, A. <3 <3 <3

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    1. Thank you again dear Anna. I will never forget once the kitchen was on fire, the area above the stove and a preacher was at the door and I was probably five and I asked him to help and he practically ran down the street. God was always there protecting us though. Somehow the fire always got put out. Crazy times. Have a blessed Sabbath, and please be careful my friend. Love you, Joni 💕❤️🤗

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  10. Congratulations! Congratulations Joni! Beautiful indeed.You are a wonderful writer and I quite enjoy reading your poetry. I have nominated you for the 10 day travel challenge that my friend Aiva (www.ourcrossings.com) has nominated me, if you’ve not the time, not a problem…
    All the best and love from Spain to you and your husband.
    F

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    1. Oh thank you so very much my kind friend. I really appreciate your support always. Thank you for your generous nomination too. I have never heard of “The Ten day Travel Challenge.” I will check it out my friend. Thank you for your kind support for this new publication as well. They have some beautiful photography work as well featured in their work.
      Congratulations on your nomination as well. Hope everyone is doing well in your family and that you are busy as I know your recent work has been phenomenal. Sending love to you and your wife. This is probably a busy time for both of you. Happy a Holidays you two. Stay safe, blessed, and inspired. 🤗💕❤️Joni

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      1. All good here Joni, and I am so glad all’s well with you too. I thought of you because I know you are a very creative photographer and you’ve travelled many places, my friend and fellow blogger, Aiva, whose blog Our Crossings is excellent (ourcrossings.com) and I would suggest you visit, nominated me. It requires you to post one travel photo every day for 10 days without saying where it is from, let them guess I would imagine, and nominate one person every day as well. Of course it is all based upon your time and if it is cumbersome you do not have to do it, there is no problem. If you take the challenge, then link my page and the page of your nominee and I look forward to seeing your photo. All the best, love and peace from Valencia,
        F

      2. I am so glad all is well my friends. I am definitely going to check out and follow your friend. You and I do follow lots of the same talented people. It sounds like fun. Thank you for the kind compliment. I will try to do so. I have another publication and it is suppose to be towards the end of the month. I will see what photographs I can find. Thank you for your vote of confidence. It always means so much coming from someone so talented in all the arts. Sending love, peace and holiday blessings. 🤗💕❤️🦋🙏Joni

      4. Thank you again for the nomination Francisco. I have my first photograph ready to post tonight at midnight. My photographs will not be as interesting as yours as my travels are mostly local but I am giving it a shot. Thank you again as I am very flattered. Love to you both, Joni

      6. Thank you Francisco. I am excited to meet new photographers this way also. I appreciate your kind words about my work. Sending love and prayers to you both. 🤗💕❤️🦋💝 Hopefully I did everything right in my post. I am excited for you to meet any of my nominees that you don’t know. Stuart is my first, he is very talented and I know he will appreciate your work too. Thanks again Francisco I appreciate you thinking of me. 💕❤️Joni

  11. Joni my dear, this is utterly beautiful ❤️ You expressed your pain with such intensity. The imagery is vivid and strong. So deep and powerful, bring tears to my eyes. I can see it’s from your heart and soul. You are a survivor. Thank you for sharing this amazing poem. And congratulations to you. Sending love ❤️

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    1. Oh thank you so much my friend. I am grateful for you extremely kind words. Your words have touched my heart. Thank you and I am so glad that you read and commented. I am a surviver and have so much to be grateful for and I am. My life is so blessed and I am so fortunate. Have and amazing weekend. It is hard to believe it is almost Christmas. Stay safe, Love Joni xoxoxo

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