Will It Snow Again This August by Joni Karen Caggiano

buried deep in curtain’s fogof raven black sludgewooden clogs sink deepsocket-eyed, gaunt humanscrucial heat escaping, I awakeI give her a hopeful nudge ebony, shaved headone of eight in our bedI shiver, stone-coldand yet begin to stripclothes off, stark whiteflesh of the nocturnal dead stems bereft of petalsbones, a reminder of belly painsamid the stench of…

“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…

“Freezer Burn” Live Featured on IndiaMasticadores

Snow had fallen for five days in a row, and we were no longer allowed outside.  Yet, my hateful sisters, Ruth and Elizabeth, somehow obtained mom’s approval to drive to the deli right up the street.  Mom gave them money for sandwiches and hot cocoa.  They both stuck their tongues out at me as they…

”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…

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…

My New Poem “Life and love beseeches,” Live on MasticadoresIndia

tearfully shedding buttery orange leaves all yearsilently for each life shed in brutality and fear earth rejoices when drops descend from the skymixing with pores of earth’s green and dirt dry love kisses thistle and uncurls branches to clapwhile lovers snuggle close, slowing hearts to nap To continue reading please visit MasticadoresIndia ( now called…

My new poem “Astro Jack” live on edge of humanity

From the perspective of a young concert goer using hip-hop urban dialect.   losing myself between those repeated raw beats ignoring and escaping the tizzle of the streets reality spooning hardships like venomous glue scrabbling out of my skin like thousands will do   braided red locks bouncing off tight curvy hips singing freestyle, making…

My poem haiti-the forgotten dying land now featured on edge of humanity

scant trees hold precious life in soildownpours run without mercyflushing minerals into low landscharcoal created from the sparse bushtiny fingers burn on hot boiling potof small green leaves collectedoverfished waters leave nets lying emptysilent goat bones weave like shadowsstomachs ache like a black tooth decaying blank stares of a slave child with a swollen bellychained…