My new poem live on The Edge of Humanity “High price”

Posted on by jonicaggiano

Poem by Joni Caggiano – Photo by Ben Ashby on Unsplash


Arising from the loamy soil and red clay emits the realm of cotton and tobacco.  Their breaths are a land of drudgery where drops of scarlet seep from hands that pick the whites of her thorny eyes.  Growing in fields of lost magnolias and gardenias adrift, where scentless trees play jazz for fairies and whippoorwills. 

Aromas of flour bread a cooking and pickled pigs feet served up with a side of salt pork.  Shelling peas on the swing with my auntie. Sniffing fresh sheets as lively winds blow linens on a clothesline, bringing them life with hearsays.

To continue reading go to THE EDGE OF HUMANITY MAGAZINE

 

49 thoughts on “My new poem live on The Edge of Humanity “High price””

  1. Oh my Joni…you left me with emotional whiplash! To take us from the scene ” where scentless trees play jazz for fairies and whippoorwills. ” to the abuse and exploitation of a “new uncle” was a jarring ride.. You are so adept at both..painting the idyllic , the smell of fresh sheets blowing on the line, to the horror of small girl’s plaintive cries and abuse. Honesty, I wasn’t expecting the latter..It makes it somehow all that more cruel..against the background first painted. Powerful Joni!…very very….. Love and big arms to hug you, Karima 🤗❤️🙏

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    1. Oh Karima what a very beautiful comment. Thank you so much. You always really get my pieces and I appreciate the time it takes to make such a thoughtful and relative comment. That is how abuse is it starts to become part of the norm. I read once that an adult child told her therapist that once she was sitting in her living room watching a television show and a naked man she had never seen before came busting into her family’s house and told her to give him the soap she had taken – the therapist said, (not an exact quote) “Well what on earth did you do?” The girl then said, “I got up and got the soap from our bathroom and then went back to watching my show.” The norm becomes crazy. Maybe that is one of the reasons I enjoy art so much and I love how you create such beautiful worlds for your posts. It is like being in a magic world it reminds me of the movie Avatar. Thank you so much for your lovely big hug and your love. I can feel it and I am sending much love to you dear Karima. ❤️🤗🦋🥰

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      1. My pleasure Joni and thank you for this outpouring of love and connection in your reply. You are an amazing poet, person , friend. I find so much inspiration reading you and listening to your experience and wisdom that you have brought back to share with us and help so many. Your voice is important, it is full of compassion and you survived it all to become the beautiful, strong talented soul you are today. Much love to you always dearest Joni. So blessed to have you in my life❤️

      2. My dear Karima you always say things that touch my heart so tenderly. I too believe that my strength and my creativity comes from much of that life. I honestly can say I don’t have regrets I have blessings and gratitude. I will see my parents in heaven some day and they will be free of their alcoholism. They had a strong faith, they just couldn’t get past their own childhoods and pain. I feel that your talent also comes from a deep place and it allows you to be such an amazingly inspirational artist. Much love to you too Karima and I am glad you are in my life too. xoxoxoxo

  2. This is beautiful. It takes me back home to the south & I can feel it with all my senses, especially the red clay dirt down there.🥰

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    1. Thank you so very much. I appreciate your comment. I am glad it stirred some senses. You are so right in the Piedmont area especially the sand is so white and the clay almost blood red in places. Have an amazing week and thank you again for your kind comment. ❤️

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    1. Thank you Tim. I really appreciate your kindness and support so much. By the way It is so nice to see your photography featured on MasticadoresUSA. Hopefully we will see some shots of the moon and owls soon. I am sending you an email in a few minutes you will have it. Blessings to you two. Hugs and love ❤️ Joni

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  6. This is an amazingly beautiful and powerful poem, a true work of art that lets you see clearly the images you have painted so beautifully with precise words perfectly placed for the maximum poetic effect!

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    1. Thank you so much Francis. I so appreciate you both reading my work. It means a lot to me. Thank you for all your gracious and kind words. They always mean so very much to me. Love, hugs and prayers for you both, always Joni xoxoxo

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      1. It’s always a pleasure for me, for us. Joni. Your beautiful poetry truly brightens our day. Wishing you both a lovely and happy weekend! 😊🤗♥️

  7. A wonderful mixture of the sublime and the unwanted. You have taken personal tragedy and used it to empower the voice of a survivor. You speak to and for many who still hold these painful memories in secret. You will never now the aching souls you have comforted with your words. Congratulations on your continued success!

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    1. Brad, what a very kind comment. That is my goal to let people who are still in these situations know they are not alone and there are so many wonderful resources today, unlike when I was a child. By the way I just found out this morning about your wonderful accomplishment. I can not tell you how excited I was, you would have thought I was a winner. I sent you an email, but just let me say I could not have been happier to see your name there when I hit the click button. Well deserved and great validation for the wonderful talented poet that you are my friend. I know that you will not be changed by your success either. You will remain the humble, kind and gracious man that you are. Love and a big congratulations to you! Jonikins

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      1. Thank you, Jonikins! You are too kind. But don’t confuse my constant “wonder if I am good enough” with some sense of humility. Loving you back, big time!

      2. You are so welcome Brad. My pleasure always. Feeling your love and sending more back. Hope you celebrate your win with someone special this weekend. Big hugs too. ❤️❤️❤️Love Jonikins

  8. The commenter who said “emotional whiplash” nailed it. I was in a pleasant place, then, not. As a child that whiplash has repercussions forever. Beautifully, yet painfully, written.

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    1. Thank you my wise friend. I am incredibly blessed and happy. It is possible to have an amazing and productive life it just takes a lot of work and early on. I stopped that abusive cycle with my family and my amazing daughter and family. Thank you so much for reading and your comments. They always mean so much to me. ❤️🤗

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    1. Dear Brenda thank you so much for reading. I appreciate your comment and am glad like me you did not get stuck
      By your past. Sending you my hugs, love and gratitude my kindness and supportive friend. 🤗🦋 love Joni

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      1. I am so sorry that I have been off-line for a week or two. Having serious computer problems. Had to switch from GoDaddy to HostGator and get new Internet speed. Nothing we can’t handle but it will take time. I did post the irreverent post the other day. I had a dream and that was it. I thought it was hilarious but paused for a day or so to decide to post it. It amazed me, the number of likes. I was sure I would get some comments that would singe my hair. ❤❤❤☢☢

      2. It is delightful to hear from you my friend. I am going in now to read your story. You write delightfully Brenda. I am going in. Love you, Joni 🤗❤️🦋

  11. Some of the comments about your poem, made me get teary eyed, with the love given to you & for what you endured as a child. I just love you dearly my soul sister friend. You amaze me.

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    1. Thank you Janette. I appreciate you so much. I love you dearly as well and you amaze me. It is a supportive and wonderful community. I feel blessed. Talk soon Janette, I love you🤗❤️🦋

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  13. You have amazing talent Joni. I cannot help but to enter your world and feel all the emotions through such great imagery❣️Thank you for sharing your beautiful writing 💕🌸

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  14. Thank you Joni for sharing such powerful words through this poem💕🌸 You have an amazing gift to bring so much comfort to many of us. Sorry for your pain. Sending comforting hugs and love your way🤗❤️

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    1. You are so welcome and I am really not in pain anymore. I miss my mom and dad and wish their existence would have been a better one. They were gone before I was thirty and I know I will see them again and they will be sober and healthy. Henrietta I just went in to your site and had not seen Anything posted since January. Is everything OK with you and your family?

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  15. I’m glad to hear that there’s no more pain but I cannot help and feel the hurt for the young you as a child. I unfortunately can relate, growing up in a home with an abusive parent, because of alcoholism. I understand your wish that your parents existence would have been a better one as I also wished that for my dad.
    We are all doing very well, thank you so much💕🌸🤗 I manage to post every second week, my next post will be on the 11 February 2022. Thank you for caring, sending much love and blessings to you and your loved ones❤️🤗

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    1. Thank you for your gracious share and I am so sorry. I am sorry you can relate but it just confirms what I already knew, their are millions of us out there and we all need to know it wasn’t our fault and we don’t have to feel the shame anymore and the humiliation. It is surprising to me how many people still want to ignore this problem. I feel blessed with my followers being supportive and many sharing their situations. I am sure you are stronger because of it and I already know you are a lovely person Henrietta. I am glad your family is all well. I will check for your post on the 11th. Sending that little one you were a big hug and lots of blessings and yes as a child I lived in pain and fear. Love you ❤️

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  16. Jesus, God, Joni. Dear Joni. I am so sorry. I know You are healed and loved beyond measure….but God. It’s just so sad. So beautifully written. The complexities. The simplicity. All of it. I love You. ❤️

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    1. Thank you sweetheart. I am sure glad your back. I am sending baskets of appreciation and love your way. Also the fairies will be in tomorrow. They have been in Seattle but it is too cold. Excited to visit you and their friends the dragons. They bring an array is expensive paints and brushes. I love you too Katy. 🤗❤️🦋🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🐉🐉🐉

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