When I read the beautiful poetry in your books, Mich, there are innumerable and compelling lessons shared, as well as joy and sorrow. In other words, they are filled with soulful and meaningful bits of real life, which make your work so enthralling. After Rain Skies is representative of so many women and men globally…
Category: aching
“Polished Composure” by Joni Caggiano ©️2025 Now Live on HotelMasticadores
Polished Composure Timid love alights in garland eyes as I remember the tranquil sway of cattails in spring. Laughter and love permeate the air we breathe. My sun-kissed skin glistens with the reflection of the clear, chilly pond water. The yellowish-orange bills of the great egrets keep tune in this symphony of sound. Now wet,…
“The Crown” by Joni Caggiano ©️2025
The Crown Bougainvillea florets tremble likescarlet ribbons tied in bows on young flesh Archways of stone outstretchreposeful winds on muted statues with listless stares Foreboding leopard keeps vigila silent killer, her sentry will shield if a threat declares Pillars of light bring rays of respite yettears seal her withering heart within flouted ceiling Ferns rest…
“A Knock” by Joni Caggiano ©️2025 Now Live on HotelMasticadores
A Knock crisp welcoming voice of the wrenhow her incantations I long to hearbut she placed her voice in a boxher color, joy, and song buried near wailing calls soft, tiny bulbs hoist sailoak tree slain by a dismal, frail windroots glisten in the sun, a forest-sickmy body dismantled, like my friend To continue reading,…
SCALE WITHOUT MEASURE BY JONI CAGGIANO ©️JAN. 4, 2025
In the late fall of the year of the Dragon, the maple trees let slip from memory the task of turning their leaves. Yellow carotenes did not fill the leaves, bequeathing the desirous soil below with enviable nutrients. A spiritless sun went into an impervious mourning at such a loss. Lady bugs with red and…
”Red Ball” Now On Hotel Masticadores
Red Ball Hannah wept silently into her dusty apron. She spun her thin face around, much like a donut, awaiting its freckling of powdered sugar. Tears cast their agonies upon hand-stitched hydrangeas, petunias, and magnolias while honeybees clung close with their bulging pollen-laden legs. Ruth had spent six months embroidering this apron for her and…
JuneTeenth
old cow skin whip, laden with wire and glasssteals black flesh with every beastly lashdog-tired bones, left cotton in bollthis beating has freed a weary soul slaves sing their stories in the fieldnews, and prayers for those who healchildren stolen from a young momJosiah Henson, hero, valiant, no uncle tom emancipation, Lincoln sign, so why…
“Forgotten” My New Poem Live On HotelMasticadores
apples hang low forgotten honey bees tiny legs, heavy pollen lemons make moving weary overcast your eyes spurs surge from pores discerns a sense of being akin to the caterpillar in cast front legs, in cement crack grow up you say who are you I recognize you not To continue reading, go to Hotel Masticadores,…
My New Prose “slumbering Savannah” Now On Masticadoresindia
The swamp claws its way through the mud. Water moccasin waking late in the winter’s artful sun. Hiding in the putrid belly of the forsaken shade of the brown-haired trees, he lay gazing. He sees in black and white. Stalking prey with a proud skinny neck and blockish head, he hunts. Choctaw child, feet raw…
First Kiss – new publication on MasticadoresIndia
My First Kiss freckles rearranging erotic patterns on pale, poreless skincotton candy, and elephant ears dripping in sugar and butterair shifts smell mixing with scented moments, holds onto lifewhite eyelet dress clings to sun-soaked skin; its holes breathevirgin lips plump, yearn for a first kiss, weary of practicingguilty for praying for my first kiss, selfish…
