“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…

my new story “The Blue Pill” live on masticadoresindia

Having had migraines for years, I knew I would need that third pill. No more than 300 milligrams of Imitrex, and I would take that enormous, new, blue blood pressure pill my family doctor just prescribed. I was way too young to be having blood pressure issues. But the unexpected has a way of meandering…

Live on MasticadoresIndia – “Secret behind my dad’s death”

Strange questions were bouncing off the wall when I said goodbye to Dad. As I lay, the phone down, my intuition was flexing its head like a water moccasin. I sensed a myriad of harsh realities lurking like monsters in dense fog. It was a simple lung biopsy, and they had stabilized his blood pressure,…

My New Short Story, “Death of a Stranger,” Live On MasticadoresIndia

Hearing the rush of nurses heading toward the ICU, I followed the herd.  My youthful intuition was kicking in as an eerie sense of suffocation and dread encircled me.  I suddenly felt like a child waking from a nightmare.   I was already on edge since yesterday having been informed that three nurses were raped in…

my new poem “The phoenix” live on masticadoresindia

A serpent turninginto a great birdwith wings of blueand words I heard killing and blooddeath and sorrowinnocence cryingforgetting tomorrow great his swordwings shine whiteserpent sailing highGod hand did smite To finish reading my new piece please go to MasticadoresIndia ( now called ChewersMasticadores ) and please remember to like, share and subscribe!    Right before…

Lisa Tomey Anthology – Social Justice Inks

Social Justice Inks is a highly formidable book about many prominent issues related to Social Injustice in our world. I am so grateful to have three pieces in this thought-provoking book. When I listened to a video that Lisa Tomey held with some of the writers included in this book, I was brought to tears….

He Is

bullfrogs playing banjo strings in a scarlet sunsetwater surging in veins of the rainforest in Borneodots that salsa around on the back of a newborn fawncolors mingling on a palette, the firmament at dawn fire rainbow made by ice crystals and bright sunlightantelope canyon, shades reflect on the navajo sandstonehanging pouches, mammatus clouds dangling in…

Death Toll Rising

  moon slips warily inside a red envelope refusing to come out owls cough up hoots praying over owlets the sun wears blinds anoles unable to warm fire ants stinging eating tough flesh trees halt, drop leaves eggs left, nest cold birds fall, sky red in protest of the dead   We continue to pray…