“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…

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…

”September’s Garden” Now On Chewers Masticadores

September’s Garden Dawn, an awakening that beckons idyllic, downy light, an endowment gently warming my green and thirsty skin.  The last remaining flowers. I am the protector of the wonderous scentsthat whiff their way, often, to unsuspecting humans.  My limbs of love hide deep beneath the ground’s surface, close to the red brick path.  I…

My Sword Now Live On MasticadoresPhilippines

I am a soul that spirals within the languid cylindrical cavity of a flute.  Fragrances pass through me, caressing my heart like a compassionate breeze that carries earth’s gifts.  Through the eyes of a bee, I forage for sweet tenderness lost in the rough concrete of my childhood home.  Fear, pain, and sorrow lay a…

“Tardy Morning Sun” Now Live On Spillwords Press NYC

    damp, frosty grass was a sad soul to bare feet   her heart dangling from a pale elbow in a drowsy fog   besieging her as tears hymn, turning to ice on cold flesh   five months passed since her husband was planted to earthly rest       laying by the lake,…

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…

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…

Pure Beauty

blades of olive grass salute her rare grandeur fledglings move tenderly to offer new buds for scarlet hair thousand-year willow oaks cultivate a canopy of cover youthful rosy breast and curvy hips from God’s own palette cerulean eyes sparkle and dance as she stirs slowly God takes her slender hand as wings unfurl, still wet…

Ripe Buds – An Ameri-Ku

Patterns moving on grandma’s quiltsun turning our youthful skin pink like ample florets, ripe buds open with a sigh in red claytender caresses melt the freckles on my cheeks, smelling lavender mixing with your desireyou trace I love you, on my firm thighs, I grow weak   The Ameri-Ku/Euro-Ku is a style of poetry created…