Abused Child Featured in Edge of Humanity for World Poetry Day March 21, 2024 ©️ January 2022 High Price also Published in Edge of Humanity (thank you Joelcy Kay) Five new pieces of poetry and prose by Joni in “After Rain Skies – The Global Anthology,” by Michelle Ayon Navajas
Abused Child
do not presume to know me
my face a frowning moon
crevices of sadness besmear
a hoary soul who wonders here
wounds scab, heal and gaze
as an eyeless void, she paints
no peak can lug the weight
of a child begotten such a fate
High Price
by Joni Caggiano – Published by Edge of Humanity
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.
Handing tobacco to the looper at five was to be my big surprise. Come evening time; cicadas flex muscles buckling one rib at a time. My new uncle stuck his finger in my private place that night. Mammoth hands are ignoring my piteous pleas. Like a fledgling in the sunrise, my eyelids pull on swollen lids. Silent whimpers laying to rest.
I made fifty cents an hour that next morning. It seemed like a high price to pay. It was a while till I went fishing in the pond where mermaids and water moccasin found a way to play.
Images Courtesy of Nigel Byng
For updates on the release and contributors of to “After Rain Skies – The Global Anthology,” please check on Michelle Navaja’s blog and instagram.
Sensational🙌🏼
Hello and thank you so much for reading. We are very excited about this global anthology that the five time #1 Amazon Best Seller is releasing soon. People from all over the world share the same experiences in their words. Thank you so much for reading. Blessings, Joni
These predators are everywhere. Your courage in sharing this piece must be commended, Joni.
Thank you, Nigel, so much for reading, and yes, they are everywhere, more so than ever. I am very excited to read your pieces in Mich’s Global Anthology. Big hugs and love from us both. Nice catching up today!
You’re welcome, joni.. yes, it’s always fun hearing from you guys.
Thank you Nigel – and enjoy your celebration with your sister next Monday, please give her my love. Blessings
This gets through to my heart and mind, Joni. Your description of nature is beautiful, but I am disgusted by a girl being abused by a relative.
Thank you so much Timothy. Yes, little children in a relative’s home with no supervision and a pedophile is trouble. The sad thing is that honestly I didn’t know what was normal and he let me sing when he played the organ, let me fish in their pond, and always seemed kind, so it always felt wrong but a child sometimes doesn’t even know. I survived it and I think that is one reason I wrote my book. Mich is writing this global anthology just to show it happens all over the world. I appreciate your kindness and am grateful that your family provided a safe home for your children. Blessings to you and your family Tim. 🙏❤️🙏
Thank you Joni for sharing updates of After Rain Skies. The poem “Abused Child” is so on point. Your opening line “do not presume to know me” hits home.
Thank you for always speaking up your truth.
I am so grateful you enjoyed that first line. No one knows what anyone has been through by looking at them. If you lived in that kind of craziness for 20 years as I had to live there while I was going to school and work two jobs at times. You get real good at putting on a mask. However, for the most part that mask has been stripped away. Through my work with reading Dr. Claudia Black’s book, “It Will Never Happen to Me,” so long ago and therapy I learned I don’t have to wear those masks. Also getting older is freeing. This book, “After Rain Skies – The Global Anthology,” is a very important addition to her other books the artist or the writer is Michelle Navajas, she is a wonderful writer, and this book shows the fact that this is a generational and a global problem. She is a strong advocate and humanitarian who actually works with and helps to support places in her country that work with abused women. She is a very humble person and does a lot of education through her writing of books. I’m extremely proud to be in this particular book because I too am an advocated against abuse having grown up the way I did. Thank you so much for reading. I really appreciate it. Big hugs.
A heartbreaking situation beautifully and delicately written, dear Joni.
Hello sweetie. It is always so nice to see your sweet smile and the beautiful person you are. I appreciate your reading my friend. Sounds like you are doing your dancing more regularly and I am glad to hear it. Hugs and love, Joni
Sweet and loving you! Thank you dear, Joni. 🩷🙏🏻
Always sending love. Wishing you always happiness, my friend.
Thank you! I do feel them and your sweet sincerity. 🕊️ May the love you send, shower you in return.
Oh, thank you Michele. I appreciate your love returned. It means so much, always has. ❤️🙏❤️
“Arising from the loamy soil and red clay emits the realm of cotton and tobacco.” You took me there Joni <3
Thank you so much Trâm. I am so glad that you could feel this, many blessings.
🥰
Love these, Joni!
Thank you, Dawn, so much for reading. I am so glad that you enjoyed these pieces. Hugs and love, Joni
Always difficult to read of child abuse, but the story needs to be told, thank you for bringing your amazing talents to truths too often buried. Sending love and hugs my dear friend!❤ 🤗
Thank you Tiffany for reading. I appreciate you and know it is difficult to read this work; it is never pleasant to read of other people’s suffering. Your kind words and support always mean so much. Sending great big hugs and lots of love right back to you! 🤗🫶
My goodness, these are startling and horrifying, Joni. Your courage in sharing such deeply painful moments is so admirable. Such strength you possess, and such respect I have for you, my friend. Absolutely haunting pieces… Much love to you, dear friend. You’re the brightest light in the sky…
Thank you Mike for your kind words as they always touch my heart. I am grateful that I am able to have a venue in which to share my words always. Again, thank you for reading and your gracious words my friend. So glad to read your words. Much love and appreciation always for your truth, Mike. Love from us both
Your work is so beautiful and heartbreaking and painful, Joni. Oh that little girl. Most people don’t understand how confusing, scary, and painful abuse is. How much courage is required to rebuild one’s identity into something powerful and whole. When you share your experience with your beautiful words, you move and teach, and I know you will change someone’s life who reads your work at just the right time. Congrats again of the coming publication. I’m so looking forward to it. Hugs. <3 <3 <3
Thank you for reading. I do appreciate your graciousness Diana. I always like to give so much credit to Dr. Claudia Black, whose book, “It Will Never happen to Me,” helped me to understand what was wrong with me. I honestly didn’t know. I lived in fear even after I left home and didn’t know there were others like me in the world. Amazing what isolation can do to a child. I am grateful she was there. Thank you for your kind words regarding Michelle’s new book too. She is going to help people all over the world. 🌎 “Summer Is Coming Any Day!” Hugs back my friend.
Isn’t it wonderful when you come across the right book at the right time? One that says exactly what you need to hear, when you need to hear it. For me it was “Necessary Losses,” by Judith Viorst. Like Black’s book was for you, it’s one I won’t forget. <3
Diana, this is so very true indeed. Thank you for the heads-up on Judith Viorst, as I will look it up on Amazon. <3<3
It’s an old book, Joni. I read in probably 45 years ago. But it had a profound effect on me. Hugs.
It is a book one does not forget. Ditto, a profound effect on me too. It sold two million books. She still works with youth at the Claudia Black Center. Sending you my appreciation and hugs. By the end of next week, I hope to be able to finish reading your book and do a book review. It won’t be easy to do the book justice in a review, your creative imagination is splendid and entirely captivating. ❤️🙏❤️
<3 <3 <3 <3