My good friend, Second Life movie maker, extraordinary poet, and graphic artist, Karima Hoisan, recorded her poetry reading with some of my photography and put it together with her original music to create this feast for the senses. Please see the embedded video below to enjoy, but to get the best sound and experience, it’s best to open it in Karima’s YouTube channel. Be sure to check out her amazing content on her site, https://karimahoisan.com, and see her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@KarimaHoisan. From Karima:
This beautiful poem forms part of an amazing collection, she has written, “One Petal at a Time” that will soon be released. So please stay tuned. I am honored, Joni asked me to read it. The words are below and all images were taken by Joni, except the title which Dale Innis made in AI. Music by me 🙂
Forks Of Ivy
By Joni Caggiano
within the choices, the ivy threads enlace through
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, like ink on memoirs now drawn into dust devils
along a path of smiles without corners
cigarette hanging like a tired aching pig’s tail
apple pie, reaching forward to grab a knife to cut
sober days a treat left cooling in windowsill
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, like parchment paper, tender
under hand-made buttermilk biscuits
hair falling below her hip-less figure
still developing breast, the color of cream
her bony legs tingle as jasmine mingles with long dark hair
an unbroken reminder of her prison
the seemingly endless maternal threat to prune
jasmine nightly, as slumber regrettably blows
encasement of foreboding
tiny this creature, sequestered, who knows no one
her senses ripe with emotion
hankering for the soothing southern silence
trusting only the green wisdom of wildwood creatures
that tarry, within the brief inhale, of yellow- pine dust
an acrid fork of asphalt jungle follows a creek that bleeds
tears of red dots with names of pharmaceutical drugs
meeting patients, embracing as one would
a precious soul, journey nearly ending, no one left to care
she feels their pain like an animal dying in hunter’s trap
travels away from the vein of life’s reality
she climbs in bed with a dying woman
with no hair who smells of death
petitions silkworms to weave canopies of comfort
praying for nature to send the bees with pollen
from fields of lavender to sprinkle their golden gift
her fork in the ivy visits all who left before her
veins slowly stop their pulsing as greens turn to browns
a trumpet moves with one bold black line, she drowns
amidst heavenly creatures a celebration of angelic sounds
sweet the smell of those waiting where the forks meet
a feast for her soul is beginning, as God calls let’s eat
Dearest Karima, we are blown away, and I expected to be, but it is even more beautiful than our expectations. The words are spoken with amazing enunciation, inflection and clarity. It almost sounds like something I didn’t write. I felt myself drifting with the words and nature as if it were one thing. I am amazed every time I hear you speak. We both thought the music was captivating. Sounded like a calming symphony. You are just so talented and I am amazed at how soliloquizing the poem sounded. This is one of my favorite pieces in the book, and one of the others is the poem that Navin narrates. I knew your voices would enhance the poetry and make it feel in complete harmony with the words. You both did such an exquisite job. Thank you, Dale, for what you did as it is very appreciated my friend. Karima, I cannot believe the amazing music you put on all your videos, and this is certainly no exception. I was glad I sent photography that you thought was appropriate, of course except for the gorgeous work that Dale started the video with. Oh, my friends. With the same as Navin, it is hard to have the words to state how I feel, the immense love I feel pouring over me. This is breathtakingly gorgeous, with the photographs following the “Forks of Ivy,” which show the paths of the three significant parts of my life. I love how you describe and read the part about the sick woman. I am touched by the time-consuming work that you graciously donated for my book; it means so much. I love you, sweetie, and most importantly, I know you are very busy, and this means the world to me. Happy Ramadan – inshallah. Love Joni
It has been my pleasure and my honor to you read this poem. Thank you Joni, your sincere appreciation has moved me deeply.
You are welcome but I know how much you have given of yourself to do this for me, as you have been in such a creative space. So again, thank you with all my heart dear gracious friend. Love you bunches! ❤️
Ohhh Joni it has been a pure pleasure for me to this poem. You are very welcome 🙏 my beloved friend.
Oh thank you my very precious friend, I love you Karima and hope that you will have an easy day today!
All my love to you sweet soul ❤️
❤️🌹
beautiful Joni! She read it so beautifully too! And I cant wait to buy her book!
She is an amazingly talented woman. She doesn’t talk much about all the truly amazing work she has done with and for very famous people. She is a humble soul. Thank you Carol for watching the video and I agree she just made that poem come to life. It meant the world to me that she was willing to do it. She graciously got involved as did Dale and of course the beautiful reading that Navin did as well, they have both touched me heart beyond words. Sending big hugs, love and blessings always to you Carol anne. Love you Joni ❤️
You consistently produce outstanding content.
Thank you for your very gracious words, they mean so much to me. What a very kind comment. Thank you Sister D’Amore. Hugs and love, Joni
Ramadan Kareem Joni! I am so pleased you liked my reading and I was able to put a grain of sand to promote your amazing book! Much love always and many blessings to you..All my love, Karima
You are one of the most real and humble people I know dear friend. You are a treasure of a friend as is Navin. Ramadan Inshallah!
I followed along with the captions while watching the video and what a moving poem this is, Joni. What a special tribute to you and your artistry by Karima. It’s so wonderful to see all the love this community is showing you. You deserve it. I’m so looking forward to your book, my friend! 😊
Oh Mike you are such an enormous supporter yourself my dear friend. Karima has such an amazing voice and I felt like she made the movie come to life. I did not do the first title page that was created by Dale Innis, a dear friend of Karima’s that has been working with her in second life for probably a couple of decades. He too, is very talented. So I used my photography and sent it to her and I am sorry that you can not hear her voice, she has one of these amazingly sultry voices. I wish you could have heard her Mike. I hope that is ok that I said that as I often think of you listening to the birds and the sound of the wind too. She is a modestly incredibly talented women who has done so many things. She has worked with some very famous people and done work with her voice. However, she uses another name. What a thoughtful thing to say about Karima and I know that it will mean a lot to her. I wish I could give you my hearing for an hour a day and I would gladly do it my friend. I truly one. That is how your kindness has impacted me. Thank you my friend. I read your beautiful poem that was on your site and Gobblers yesterday but I kept thinking I had heard it before. I wondered if I read it on your site and was about to go to Gobbles and something happened and I never got back to it, as that does happen with me – my husband says – oh something shiny (kind of funny because it is true.) I don’t do well without sleep so I slept in after working till 3:30 last night until 10:00. Thank you again Mike. Love you my friend. 🌹
It’s most certainly my pleasure, Joni. And no worries about my deafness, my friend. I wish I could hear normally but I can only here a few sounds, so no birds or breeze in the trees anymore for me, but it’s okay. I hear with my heart and my memories now. And I understand about the “Oh, something shiny!” part as well as how difficult it is to deal with a lack of sleep. I’m just excited for you and can’t wait until I have a copy of your new book in my hands. 😄
Enjoy the outpouring of love and support, Joni. You deserve every bit of it. Much love to you, my friend, and Scott, too, from springtime Colorado! 😊🌳❤
Thank you for sharing that with me Mike. I am enjoying it. It can be overwhelming. Love you Mike 🦋
This is such a lovely production. An awesome reading by Karima. The use of your photos, and the choice of music, her voice which narrates this piece.. all so professionally done. I am moved by this. This is so beautiful. Well done Karima. 💜👏🙏
Nigel, I am so glad you enjoyed it, she is marvelously talented and her voice is truly amazing. She composed the music herself actually. Yes the photos were mine, except for the first one, which was by Dale Innis. He is a brilliant 2nd life and AI expert. I am delighted that you liked it. She is quite something but she is so modest. Once we were both nominated for the same award in SpillWords and she just withdrew her name. That is the kind of person she is. She uses a different name now but talk about interacting with some of the great people in history and in the creative realm, some of the things she did are wild. She was paid for a lot of work she did because of that sultry sexy voice of hers. Her and Navin are dear friends as well. She is a big blessing in my life too. Thank you for your kind comment this will mean a lot to her. Love you and you by the way, what a way to take Eliza to a whole new level. What an intense episode. Unbelievable. Make sure you are keeping everything you write. Scott and I really enjoyed this over cover.
The words and imagery are so very beautiful, Joni,! It touched my heart. ❤
Thank you so much dear Tim and I am so grateful to hear that you enjoy Karima’s beautiful work, she is so gifted. Much love and hugs, Joni
Bless you, Joni. ❤
🌹
Oh my, Joni, this is so heart rendering and a visually beautiful video. And that rich voice. What a wonderful tribute.
She truly does an amazing job. Between her and Navin they are just amazing both of them. Their narration is very difficult to beat. Big hugs, so glad that you were pleased, I thought that you would be. 🌹
Thank you Karima for your soothing voice to read Joni’s poem. The video was lovely & I am so thankful for all the love I feel, for Joni, from all of you. I am happy to be a reader in this wonderful writing community. Feeds my soul.
Dearest my sweet friend, how I love you and miss you. I thank you for this comment, how kind of you Janette. She, Karima has the most beautiful voice. Be sure to watch the video by Navin who has another amazing voice on-line. I really appreciate how you are always reading and your sweet comments dear Janette. I love you sweetie, I wish we were not so far away from each other. I will send you an email tomorrow about the other thing. I hope Karima reads this precious comment. She wasn’t even feeling good when she did this for me. So sweet. Love you
I have been trying to be diligent of all the feedback, new postings & readings for you Joni, it brings me such a smile on my face & warmth in my heart! This is such an exciting beautiful time for you, I feel it too! I love you bunches! My fairies keep me company while I read & listen to everything promoting your book!
God bless you my friend. I don’t think you have any idea how much that means to me. Not to mention that I know you read every comment too. You and me are very brave my friend and loyal to those we love, but I don’t know that there are too many people like you. I love you sweetheart. My soul sister. ❤️🥰❤️
God bless you too, my soul sister. Thank you for a loving reply.
Always sweetie. ❤️ Love You Janette
Karima did a fabulous job!
Thank you Dawn, I am so delighted to see that your book is all ready doing so well. You are such a beautiful poet. Sending love you way and praying for a very successful book for you. Love you, Joni
Karima did great!
Oh I am so glad you enjoyed her reading. She composed the music too. She is so talented and I just love both her and Navin’s voice. They are both so modest. Karima has done some incredible stuff in her life and known very famous people, she is quite an amazing woman and a great friend. Thank you for being such a great friend too, love to you and your family and happy Easter weekend.