rumor is a spineless seed dipped in fertile shadow dirtthat multiplies and causes pain and unexpected hurt silence, a bed partner that takes but never gives backas a man tells a buddy how easy he got her in the sack black spots jump off potatoes and out of a perfect dishsurviving boiling water and a…
Category: painful
Kindle Sale, Book Anniversary, Barbara’s Review And A Reading Of “Cleansing” From “One Petal At A Time”
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…
“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…
“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…
”Pheochromocytoma” Now On Chewers Masticadores
Pheochromocytoma She huddles coiled amongst the swath of blackberry with her matrix of thorny needles, spewing forth her painful pricks. Nerve bundles lay excavating within shredded muscles. Pain caused by unsummoned moles that convert and blast into a red-brick wall, a boundary of sanity and lost childhood of her red-brick prison. Pallid pathways etch memories…
Barbara Leonhard’s Review Of “One Petal At A Time” On Roi Fainéant Press
Thank you, Barbara Leonhard (Barbara’s Blog), editor of MasticadoresUSA, for this amazing review and submitting it to Roi Fainéant Press (Roi Fainéant Page)! Barbara’s Review of “One Petal At A Time” The title of Joni Karen Caggiano’s powerful poetry collection, One Petal at a Time, makes me recall what I used to say as a child…
Flaming Sunset Now Live On HotelMasticadores
touch my skin through silk, as air-born feathers malleable to your tender strokes, I close my eyes release me, take me from my bone-thin ancient tethers space disappears, my beloved refuge, pursue me assimilate my soul, as a window weeper whose pain is tainted by my clarity of the indignant power of the sea…
“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,…
“Your Prey” now live on HotelMasticadores
hurting heart, quivers sifting image, last beat why lie, uncharitable one what inordinate pain I unearth like shadow crow you pretend to love hawk grabs prey next day new lie, fashion fractures what is left of me To continue reading please visit HotelMasticadores and please like, share, and subscribe. Hope everyone has a wonderful…