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: Physical Abuse
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…
Abused Child and High Price – by Joni Caggiano
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…
“Madder Than A Wet Hen” Now On Masticadores Latinos English – Story by Joni Caggiano – ©️2025
Madder Than a Wet Hen “I’ll wear the prettiest dress I have today. Maybe the boy behind me won’t draw on my ears with his pen. He hurts my feelings, and I wonder if the ugliness at home follows me around. Surely, he won’t tease me with my ballerina dress on.” I realize 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…
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…
live on masticadoresusa, my new piece “Reflection”
Reflection White is the oval mirror of my exodus from the fearsome actions of the monsters in the red-brick house. Dark eyes blister as my heart pulses a bleak opus once again. An offering given by a stranger concealed with golden paper and wildflowers singing. After five years of her pleasure, I perceive the wonder…
Hidden in childhood – reading of God’s Grace
To purchase Hidden In Childhood, go to this link Amazon. This book makes a precious gift to anyone with a family member who was abused or is still being abused. For children raised by parents that provided a healthy and safe environment to grow up in, this book gives them an idea of what many…
