Forks of Ivy

Posted on by jonicaggiano
Poem a piece of who I am by Joni K. Caggiano (also referred lovingly to by her mother as “Josie Karen”
Photo by Afifi Zulkifle on Unsplash

within the choices, the ivy threads through the
patterned, worn, and tattered pieces of my youth
its blood a mixture of punctures that weave circles of
skin and bone into forgotten stories
tucked in corners where candy corn and ice-cream drips dried,
flying into dust devils

along a path of smiles without corners with a cigarette
hanging like a tired aching pig-tail
apple pie reaching forward to grab a knife to cut out stars
sailing on the hook of the half-moon
smells traveling to the old willow oak as sap drips
absorbing the smell within her bark

longer fork, which is like parchment paper under hand-made
buttermilk biscuits
hair falling below her hip-less figure and still
developing breast, the color of cream
her thin legs crawling with long dark hair,
tugging reminders of her prison
tiny this creature who knows no one and senses ripe with emotion
hankering for the soothing southern silence
trusting only the green wisdom of the trees and the creatures
that tarry, within the brief, inhale of yellow-tinted pine dust

a fork follows a creek that bleeds tears of red dots with
names of pharmaceutical drugs
meeting patients, embracing as one would a dying baby bear,
she feels their pain like sliced salt pork
climbing away from the vein, she climbs in bed with a
dying woman with no hair
who smells of death, calling silkworms to weave a layer of comfort
praying for nature to send the bees with pollen from lavender, to sprinkle their golden gift

her fork in the ivy is visiting all who left before her,
veins slowly stop their pulsing as greens turn to browns
a trumpet moves with one bold black line, and she drowns
amidst heavenly creatures a celebration of many angelic sounds
sweet the smell of those waiting where the forks met
a feast for her soul is beginning as God calls let’s eat

68 thoughts on “Forks of Ivy”

    1. Hi Cindy we have been traveling for all most a week. We finally picked a house in Asheville, NC today with 9 areas. Lots of trees, wildlife and isolation. Your a good friend. I posted this because I came up with an idea from hearing my husband say forks of ivy and I saw my life stretched out before me. I couldn’t write it fast enough. I am so exhausted, it is such a big decision. We are so grateful to God for every blessing He pours out upon us and we were tired of living where we were for too many reasons to say although we loved our house but mostly the beautiful trees and flowers that they earth brough forth with her soil, my husband also has a green thumb and is very good as it. I am not traveling home tomorrow as I have IC and I am too sick to travel so we have to stay in Asheville until I am well enough to travel. Children are starting to get this disease and it make my heart break. I love you dear sister that is not too far away. xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

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      1. Oh WOW!!!!
        Congratulations, you pulled the trigger and did it!!!! Wow it sounds lovely on 9 acreas and beautiful wildlife.
        oh what a cool experience when that happens and so cathartic and yes, draining. I’m sooo happy for you with so many blessings bestowed upon you!
        I’m sooo sorry about the IC what a bummer nd so painful. Rest and know that you have released so much and are moving on, let your body know it can let go of this so you can travel in peace. Love you to dear Jonnie!!💖💖💖❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗

      2. Just know if this doesn’t happen because we discovered some big fibs told by verifying info through the County records on our own. I think we will stay where we are. It wasn’t meant to be my sweet and loving friend who is not so far away. Love you Cindy.

      3. the right thing will reveal itself my dear friend that’s closer than far! It will be exactly as it’s suppose to be. Love you Joni!💖

      4. Thank you my dear friend. I love you Cindy we are heading back now. And hopefully in the next few days I will get a chance to read so many people that I’ve neglected due to travel lack of time and also being sick so hope to be at your site soon. Thank you for continuing to be my friend and follow me even though I have neglected you I apologize. Love you Joni 🤗❤️🎊💝

      10. Please mend up Joni with your IC, you have done a lot of traveling lately. Your poems, feed my heart & yet you are not 100%. Please take care of yourself. Always, love my friend!

      11. Dearest Janette forgive this very late response. This ended up in my pending file with many others. I don’t know why. Thank you my dearest friend for your love and concern. I wish you were not so far away. I would love to give you such a squeeze right now. Love you and Mark to pieces. Love always, Joni ❤️🤗💕🥰

    1. Thank you Francisco. This was not in my reader. I appreciate you reading this poem so much and commenting. I have been traveling with my husband looking for a home in the mountains. So we think we found one in Asheville, NC today. I have been trying to keep up but it is simply impossible to do so when traveling and looking at houses all day. For us this is a big decision we live relatively modestly and were looking for a smaller house but land with trees, so nine acres. I feel like this is one of my best works. I have much work to do and will continue to improve my skill hopefully. I am so grateful for your and your wife’s friendship because I know that your comments are sincere and that you read and think about my words. Our art is personal and it is a true gift when someone realizes it. So Thank you so much. Sending love, and true appreciation for your love and support. Hugs to your wife and flowers to grace her hair always. Love Joni

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      2. Hi my friend, thank you so much. Unfortunately we are finding that the seller has misrepresented information to us about several things. I am almost ready to just go back home and be even more grateful for the beautiful house we have. I don’t know why people can not be more honest. I am too honest. I get sad when I find out I have been lied too. Then my temper comes out. I am passionate about everything and I get so upset about anyone’s need to lie. Thank you for your kindness. All the best always to you two. ❤️🤗love Joni

    1. Brad thank you so much for your kind words. All your lovely words and appreciation for my work is always cherished. I am sending you bundles of warm hugs and love. Jonikins

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    1. Thank you so much John for the kind re-blog, thank you so much for always being so generous and thoughtful to me. Sending you warm hugs and love, Joni

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      2. Thank you John. You are a sweetheart. We thought of you a couple of days ago when my husband and I were traveling through Old Fort, North Carolina where we are currently buying property and saw a antique train station and I said look at that I bet my friend John would love a picture of that. I will still try to get a picture before we leave town but it’s been crazy so I can’t promise anything but I wish I could’ve gotten a picture but we were late for another showing of the house but I certainly did think of you. I appreciate your friendship John it means a lot to me. 💕🤗❤️🥰

  6. Joni, this poem is so beautifully written, a heart song. Your trials are powerfully woven into the threads of your imagery. You are a survivor. I salute your courage to share your journey… in “ivy threads.” Blessings and peace to you. Love and strength to you and your loved ones. Cheers💖

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    1. Your words are like starlight my friend. You are a beautifully talented poet and your following and commenting on my works has meant so much. Love you and thanks again Suzette. 🤗❤️💕🥰💝

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  7. Beautifully written! I love the photo and its orientation. Your orchestrated words have a lot of power. In the refining moments of life , there is much suffering. Are we a fill of life’s sensations?

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind and very thoughtful words in regards to this poem in particular. This really is a snapshot in many ways of who I am. I really believe that we are a combination of our strengths, experiences and support. Many of us are able to get the needed help in order to function and have a for filling life although much of the sadness never really leaves completely and I really do believe that regardless of what many people may say but that we are able to experience love, happiness, and a for filling life. I have and I am grateful and very blessed because a lot of people would have never survived even to live through what I was put through. I am truly a blessed woman and don’t take it for granted. Thank you also for taking the time to read my work as I know you are an extremely busy blogger with thousands of followers. I always appreciate and I’m grateful for your comments and your gracious words. Love Joni 🤗💕

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  10. The piece is gorgeous and very powerful honeybun. It tells a sad story that touches the heart. Images that seem to haunt you. Or perhaps you haunt them. Do you?
    It melts the pain of a child into the life of an adult in an extraordinary way. The natural surroundings are an escape, a refuge from a world of pain.

    Bravo. Splendid work.

    Sending love and blessings to you sweetheart.
    G (Button)

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    1. Thank you so much Button. I knew you would understand the veins of the ivy represents the stages of life including even my years working as a nurse. Nature is a wonderful escape. Thank you so much for reading.

      Sending you hugs and love. Thank you for your kind words Button. Love you honeybun. 🤗❤️

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    1. Wow I am very honored then, thank you for your generous support. I am so behind, traveling for a week and working on so many things I am so behind in reading other people’s work. I will do my best to catch up but it becomes almost impossible. Thank you my kind friend. I feel loved and appreciated. 💕🤗❤️🎈🌹 Hope all is well with you. Xoxo

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    1. Oh my friend, I am sorry seriously. I feel absolutely crazy when I can’t get into my computer or I have a problem. Luckily my husband was a Computer Science Major and between the two of us we work things out but I get nuts when I don’t know how to do something. I have zero patience. Well, know that you are loved and I will say a prayer for you right now. There, that will help you will see. You are a sweetheart and you are very gracious to so many writers. You hang in there my friend. Love you, try to watch a great show, have some popcorn and sleep well. Hugs and xoxoxox

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  14. You are so sweet to pray for me. You described me to a T with your reactions to Computers not working right. I dragged my old laptop out and am trying to get two paperback manuscripts ready to upload on Amazon. My big new dual-screen computer is having a nervous breakdown. My history is repairing with a hammer, so I have mellowed a lot. Shirl and I will continue our binge of NCIS probably. Popcorn sounds good. Love you and stay safe.

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    1. You too sweetie. I am always happy to say a prayer for a friend they are powerful. Binge watching tv or NCIS with Shirl sounds like fun. I am watching Adore with Robin Wright Penn and Naomi Watts I love this movie. Hugs sweetie love ❤️ Joni

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  15. Wonderful Joni! I am always blown away by the way you put your words together so eloquently, always just the right words to express depth and feelings! Wish you all the best with your new home, and your health, and happy Easter! 🥰💕🙌🙏

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    1. Tiffany you are a sweetheart really. You always make me smile with your comments. I am truly appreciative that you felt about this poem. It is very personal to me. So thank you so much. We were about to put our due diligence money down when we a big red flag was waving at me. I am so grateful that I felt that as there were many other things that came up with some basic research. I wanted to raise pigmy goats and make goat cheese and have some chickens for eggs. Living in the mountains would be glorious but we have decided that is not in God’s plan. We are grateful for our home here and we are going to stay where we are. Happy Easter to you too my friend. Sending my fairy friends with loads of Easter surprises for you. They were making jewelry early in the week I think you will probably get some hair jewelry to put in that gorgeous hair of yours. Be on the look out. Love you Tiffany, 🧚‍♀️🧚🏻🧚‍♀️🧚🏻❤️🤗Joni

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  17. We catch a glimpse of your difficult childhood through this complex imagery, Joni. The sweet and the bitter mingle. I hope you had a lovely Easter, dear friend. I had the chance to spend mine w/ family. Such time is precious. Stay safe and well. With love, A. <3 <3 <3

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    1. Oh thank you for reading my words. You completely got the poem thank you for your lovely comment. It must have been such a wonderful time to see your family. What a blessing and to be together on Easter made even more of a special. I am so glad Anna. God is so great. Love you and asking for blessings to pour over your precious family. ❤️❤️❤️💕

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    1. Thank you dear Dawn. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your kind words and your support Dawn. It means a lot to me. Have a great week. Love ❤️ Joni

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  19. Poetry bringing to life a movie in your mind’s eye , one that summons all the range of emotions, a movie with a vintage filter….that’s what your amazing works always do for me. ❤️ This is incredible.

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    1. Wow thank you Jill. How very kind. You know you get me my friend each fork, or twist was a different phase of my emotional life. “A movie with a vintage filter…’

      Thank you sweetie. I will see you tomorrow my friend and really looking forward to it. Love ya Joni

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    1. Thank you so much for your kindness. The trails of my life. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Sending love, joy, and love to you and those you love. 🤗❤️Joni

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