Joni Caggiano

Published on by Susi Bocks
Evie S. – Unsplash

Sadness Moans

shooting pain lurches like a stranger in the blackest night
where monsters live releasing their copies, swarming past, out of sight

jealousy walks on rugged stones stealing from the gifted
holding hands of small cactus plants until the desert sands are shifted

behind their peering eyes a Judas runs to throw a stone
whiffs of his betrayal, climbing to the top of the field, I hear his moan

trust a blanket, with a thousand promises, tickling me
deceit, painful rubbing of an alligator’s bony plates, I run to a forest tree

a stranger in this house of horrors, yet I have to live
stealing glances, taking chances, as I taste the bitter love I cannot give

Luna Moth and Her Lover

intense eyes open imaginary shutters
her green wings, the luna moth flutters
she mates once has no mouth, dies, lays eggs in wooded covers

would I give my life for one more night
knowing death would be my one last flight
with you, my darling, keeper, and lover of my heart, I just might

Rumor Damage

rumor is a spineless seed dipped in fertile shadow dirt
that multiplies and causes pain and unexpected hurt

silence, a bed partner that takes but never gives back
as a man tells a buddy how easy he got her in the sack

black spots jump off potatoes and out of a perfect dish
surviving boiling water and a blemish on an ideal wish

misfortune of a hammer that averted a four-inch nail
a hungry man begs for food and becomes a vulgar tail

her legs jump from flower to flower, hoping for a treat
for sleeping alone with her legs and scheming little feet

jealousy and deceit was the cause of their blue demise
scissors cut paper, and true words, well – their end is no surprise

Uncle’s House

memories grow roots that spring up like dandelions on a freshly mowed lawn
hiding among floating clouds, unwanted hands, or those thin leafless limbs
the taste of cigars on lips or the slimy feel of uncles’ probing thick tongue
he took me to church, like to watch me dance and listen when I sang hymns

lots of summer afternoons, I sat for hours while the birds sang songs to God
his lap was big, and it felt good to have someone to care what I liked to do
summer days remind me of candy, fishing, and rum bottles hiding everywhere
the smell of marigolds or that living room and wiggling to get away from you

Mermaid’s Lost Love

seaweed, green, like my eyes, harbor me in this woeful abyss
waning as my golden blueish scales morph into blackness
shadow life, and inquisitiveness died and bled the colors of the
Bolivian orange-red sunset, which calls to your land’s hummingbirds
as their darting ceased, when my only child died not far from your brown banks

caught in a mile-long fishnet with a dolphin, and sea turtle friends
a triangle of death as I watched her die slowly as I tore my fingers
trying to save my little mermaid child as my blue tears floated skyward
a mere full moon later my merman swam into a black pool of thickness
unable to swim, black death covering his scales, cocooned as he died a painful death

I visit a river that has ancient trees with long gray hair, our family knew
my sorrow theirs, for they would clap as we would sing our odes
large white stones for basking, close to flowers that smell of love, and hope
braiding the morning glories, red swamp hibiscus, and white gardenias
into black hair as reminders of the lifeless and those that will follow

our world under and above the sea is dying from white man’s greed
regret and sorrowfulness breaks my heart into pieces
soon cut into ribbons like the seaweed I will die from sorrow
for no longer do I wish to see the sunrise, no, not one more tomorrow

Old News Is Not Old News

whites of fearsome eyes looking up from blood-soaked boards
black bodies stretched naked, branded, and shackled to floors
fifty women drowning overboard that enslaver’s work quickly done
another coast, heavily greased black muscles, glimmer in the sun
2021 computers on –  I listen while today’s news on a video rolls
spinning lies another bright young man died as this story unfolds
choked, gaged, sprayed, or flayed, old news nothing fresh today
sadness is killing me daily, as I think, what will their mothers say
another way of killing folks instead of hanging on a hoary oak tree
black people want to live their lives, be respected, and to be free
I am sick and tired, of being sick and tired, of the filthy shocking pace
of how white men keep eradicating people, not included in their race

~~~

Joni’s blog is Rum and Robots. Her national and international publications can be found here: https://the-inner-child.com/publications/. She is a surviving Adult Child of Alcoholics. Joni is a retired nurse and paralegal. Since the age of six, she has been writing songs and poetry. Joni is an avid environmental advocate. She was first featured on The Short of It in December 2020, and her work was published in the first anthology – The Sound of Brilliance.

Untitled

Submissions are now closed but if you’d like to be featured on The Short of It in the future,
click here for the submissions guidelines.

#TheShortofIt

25 thoughts on “Joni Caggiano”

  1. Pingback: Pushcart Nomination, for my short poem, “The Sum is One” – Ivor.Plumber/Poet
  2. Pingback: Announcing The 2022 Pushcart Nominees! – I Write Her

    2. Hello Jaya, I decided to respond to these lovely comments. I truly appreciate you reading my work. I felt blessed to be published in Susi’s first two anthologies. I have always appreciated Susi Bocks for publishing the hard-to-hear and hard-to-feel words. Thank you so much for your kind comment, Jaya, and many blessings.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    2. Dearest Henrietta,
      What an immense blessing this was for me. I never expected to see such a fantastic nomination. I am grateful to Susi and appreciate everyone who reads my work. Thank you for your positivity always, Henrietta, which lifts us all and gives us pause to be thankful for our blessings. I appreciate your kindness and for you reading and commenting here at “I Write Her.” Big hugs, Joni

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  5. Congratulations Joni..you are such an amazing writer…these poems show so well your versatility, your power and your journey… Transparent and real writing..that has your mark, your special way of telling us your truths.❤️🤗🌹

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Karima you are a sweet soul. Thank you for reading and all your kind words. Yes, I can tell many truths through the weaving of my words and you see them, thank you again Karima for reading past the words. Big hugs and love, Joni

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    2. Dearest Karima,

      Your words are always so kind and gracious and encourage me. You are such a beautiful poet, Karima, and so gifted! It means a lot that you read me here on “I Write Her.” Susi has a way of publishing the difficult-to-read and happy moments in life. We all know that the world and life are not always perfect, but by uniting us all by our written word, we are all the better for it. Thank you so much, Karima. Love to you always, my dear friend.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  6. Each piece carries Joni’s creative mark. She has a beautiful way of giving sorrow the bravest wings enabling it to fly away and be replaced by understanding, acceptance, and resilience. I find her writing so honest and vivid, written from the heart and drenched in the soul’s nectar. Beautiful! Congratulations Joni! 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

      1. Susi thank you for honoring me with these publications. I appreciate your putting my work in “The Sound of Brilliance,” and was so proud of that accomplishment. Thank you for all that you do for the writing community. Blessings and love, Joni

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

    2. Thank you so much Terveen I do appreciate your gracious words. This touched my heart, ” I find her writing so honest and vivid, written from the heart and drenched in the soul’s nectar.” Thank you for that kindness and I feel grateful to be here. Blessings, hugs, and love, Joni

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    1. Cassa you are such a sweet friend. I appreciate your kindness and your reading my words more than once. In this hurried world we live in, it is a blessing to be read once, but twice and slowly – thanks Cassa my friend. Big hugs and love, Joni

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

Please share your thoughts...