Cleansing silence is the tiptoeof a fairy as she slylybirths comfortyouthful dreamerwriting love notes to pixiesin beams the moon can sparesolace wrappedin prayer under coversphantom of shame circlesdisgrace like fireflieswithout flamesladybugs missing spotsand archaic tainted statueswith long-ago muted tongueswhile willows lamentso, plug your earsif puffed up, with mossfrom primal oaks if truth offendsboulders of disgrace…
Category: memories
“Days Mourned” By Joni Caggiano©️2025
Days Mourned dark-eyed junco’s flit in emergence froma serpentine branchof the Dragon’s Claw Willow, where theycleave as one on their ranch like beads of unknotted pearls, sweetinfusion of her sweat draws his lipstoward the gray skirt sliding off alluringsun-tinged, rose-scented hips rhythm, melding movement as oneclouds drifting, both sateddizzy from her consummate beautywhiffs of long…
“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…
Editor’s Pick, “One Petal at a Time,” Live on HotelMasticadores
It is an honor to be featured today on Hotel Masticadores by Michelle Ayon Navajas as the “Editor’s Pick!” She did this for the anniversary of my book, One Petal at a Time. She is especially gracious, as she is releasing an anthology titled After Rain Skies – A Global Anthology to encourage a connection with…
“After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology” Available March 8, 2025
I am honored and proud to be included in this new anthology that Michelle Ayon Navajas has curated. There are more than two dozen talented authors who have contributed to this book with poetry and prose about survival after trauma. Be sure to pick up your copy when it becomes available next week! “I am…
The Cure – Live on HotelMasticadores
The Cure slow motion sobriety stirs direly like ticks on a thin-horned beast the black and white film resonates greasy black hair crawls like ants drunk for weeks, the smell lingers like a mucous trail of a banana slug blood dances a tango in your head vomit and snot, well-oiled fireworks explode on your white…
”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…
“Why This Man” Now Live On Hotel Masticadores
Why This Man my feet wiggle with soil and the last crop of the seasonthey tantalize my senses as I ponder each logical reason while my heart still beats rapidly from the tender touchof a man I barely know, yet dare, to crave this much Why This Man connecting freckles, on my arms, and makeup naked faceI smell my white dress, to…
Stale Flowers – Melissa Lemay’s Flash Fiction Challenge #280 #FFFC Response
In response to Melissa Lemay’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #280 Stale Flowers each year I still do the same arrange loose, timid, and feathery stemsas if forlorn sentiments might live thereinearly this day, we both compulsively pressour dignified threads, to look our best each year I still do the same listen to dad call it…