There Were Daisies A Collaboration by Mike Utley and Joni Caggiano © 2026 I. Wife “There were daisies,” she said. “Don’t forget about the daisies…” With my eyes closed, there was a clearness about that perfect day, the day I asked her to be my wife… “Do you remember how we lay in the grass…
Tag: memories
My Collaboration With Mike Utley, “Walking Tree”, Now On Masticadores Latinos USA
Walking Tree A Collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley © 2026 sorrow whispers, a trail of antsvapors torpid, their sting savagememories choke, a riff on my sanitynight terrors open a door; I navigate this silence is not silenceit is the groaning of eternitythe synaptic death-throes ofwhat once made me human innate images, a stolen…
My Collaboration With Mike Utley, “Walking Tree”, Now On Hotel Masticadores
Walking Tree A Collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley © 2026 sorrow whispers, a trail of antsvapors torpid, their sting savagememories choke, a riff on my sanitynight terrors open a door; I navigate this silence is not silenceit is the groaning of eternitythe synaptic death-throes ofwhat once made me human innate images, a stolen…
“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…
Beautiful Review Of “One Petal At A Time” By D. Wallace Peach
The wonderful D. Wallace Peach posted a beautiful review on GoodReads that is soon to be on Amazon. Here is the beginning: Readers who gravitate toward lush, emotional poetry won’t want to miss this generous offering of over 80 freeform poems. Though I don’t often read Author’s Notes and Forewords, these heartfelt and eloquent introductions…
”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…
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…
Poetry Book And Art Review: One Petal at a Time
Thank you, Dawn, not just for writing this amazing review, but for taking the time to read my book, which was published shortly after your book was released. Thank you also to this wonderful community and all of the other support and love I have received during this time. What a wonderful community of writers…
“He is” – now live on hotel masticadores
the savory smell amongst loblolly pines and chestnut oaks whispers lying beneath scarlet sunset which calls nocturnal animals to rise the slope of a mountain, the roar of a waterfall that tumbles with immense force to mold and smooth the pebbles within smells waft from the head of a newborn, milk swells in the breast…