#poem, Poets & Writers Series, Sunday Edition: Joni Karen Caggiano

Joni is a dear friend and a phenomenal poet! We are proud to bring her to the Poets & Writers Series!

The Poets & Writers Series is open to all writers, poets and creative folk engaged in any of the arts, and we speak English, hablamos español, on parle française, wir sprechen deutsch, e parliamo anche italiano. Just reply to this post with your email address and we will send you all the information.

JONI’S INTERVIEW

1. Who are your major literary/artistic references?
   1. Much of the inspiration I receive now is from fellow online writers. I love the various styles and phrases that I see every day online and am continually impressed and inspired by what I read.
   1. I’m also inspired by nature and all of God’s creations. I often research the behavior and characteristics of creatures or plants in our world, using that knowledge to include in my writing and to help educate the reader.
   1. Regarding historical literature figures, I’ve been influenced by Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Virginia Wolfe, T.S. Elliot, and William Shakespeare. However, because of the aforementioned inspirations, classic literature generally has taken a backburner.
2. What makes you a writer? What do you like to write about? What is your plan for the next five years?
   1. What makes me a writer? I had a very active imagination when I was little and was trying to escape the horrors of everyday life in the crazy environment where/when I grew up. One of the ways I did this was to create imaginary creatures and worlds when I fled into the woods of North Carolina. When I reached my teen years, becoming more comfortable with words and studying poetry, I began expressing myself through that medium.
   1. What do I like to write about? I always write from my heart. Generally, when I write, it’s based on a current feeling or emotion, that has been triggered by something external.  Melding a culmination of all of the experiences and emotions I’ve undergone in my lifetime, I compose by blending my words with nature, and my faith in its divine creator.
   1. What is my plan? I have no plans. Seriously, when I try to plan things out, I tend to stress about it and it invariably ends up hindering my creative abilities. When I don’t think about it, expressions and poetry come more naturally and effortlessly.
3. Why do you write? And do you write about yourself?
   1. Why do I write? I feel called to write to express my innermost feelings. When I write something online, I want it to be something that others can relate to. However, I will always write my style of prose or poetry and be true to my heart.
   1. Do I write about myself? Yes, my entire book, “One Petal At a Time,” which you illustrated so beautifully was about my life into early adulthood.  However, I also write about war, racism, slavery, and how we are destroying our environment.

JONI’S POETRY

Forks of Ivy – Poem by Joni Karen Caggiano as Appears in “One Petal At a Time,” published by Prolific Pulse Press, LLC

FORKS OF IVY

within the choices, the ivy threads enlace through

patterned, worn, and tattered pieces of my youth

its blood a mixture of punctures that weave circles

of skin and bone into forgotten stories

tucked in corners where candy corn and ice cream drips

dried, like ink on memoirs now drawn into dust devils

along a path of smiles without corners

cigarette hanging like a tired aching pig’s tail

apple pie, reaching forward to grab a knife to cut

sober days a treat left cooling in windowsill

stars sailing on the hook of the half-moon

smells traveling to the old willow oak as sap drips

absorbing the smell within her bark

longer fork, like parchment paper, tender

under hand-made buttermilk biscuits

hair falling below her hip-less figure

still developing breast, the color of cream

her bony legs tingle as jasmine mingles with long dark hair

an unbroken reminder of her prison

the seemingly endless maternal threat to prune

jasmine nightly, as slumber regrettably blows

encasement of foreboding

tiny this creature, sequestered, who knows no one

her senses ripe with emotion

hankering for the soothing southern silence

trusting only the green wisdom of wildwood creatures

that tarry, within the brief inhale, of yellow-pine dust

an acrid fork of asphalt jungle follows a creek that bleeds

tears of red dots with names of pharmaceutical drugs

meeting patients, embracing as one would

a precious soul, journey nearly ending, no one left to care

she feels their pain like an animal dying in hunter’s trap

travels away from the vein of life’s reality

she climbs in bed with a dying woman

with no hair who smells of death

petitions silkworms to weave canopies of comfort

praying for nature to send the bees with pollen

from fields of lavender to sprinkle their golden gift

her fork in the ivy visits all who left before her

veins slowly stop their pulsing as greens turn to browns

a trumpet moves with one bold black line, she drowns

amidst heavenly creatures a celebration of angelic sounds

sweet the smell of those waiting where the forks meet

a feast for her soul is beginning, as God calls let’s eat

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT JONI IN HER OWN WORDS

Joni Karen Caggiano is an internationally published author, poet, and photographer. Her debut book of poetry and prose, “One Petal At A Time,” featuring world-renowned Valencian artist Francisco Bravo Cabrera, was an Amazon Best Seller. It was endorsed by Dr. Claudia Black, the pioneer in the study of dysfunctional family systems shaped by alcohol and addictive disorders.  Joni is a 2022 Pushcart Nominee for her poem “Old News is Not Old News.”  She was privileged to write the Forward for the Best Seller, “I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark,” by the five-time Amazon Best Selling Author Michelle Ayon Navajas. Joni won Publication of the Month in November 2022 and Co-Winner of Socialite of the Year for 2023 and 2024 on SpillWords Press NYC. Joni was a Co-Author of both #1 Amazon Bestselling books, «Hidden In Childhood» and «Wounds I Healed.»  She is also in seven additional poetry anthologies. She was a featured poet on Edge of Humanity for World Poetry Day in March of 2024.  Joni has regularly contributed to several popular online Masticadores magazines for three years.  Joni’s website is the-inner-child.com, and her complete list of publications can be found on her publications page. Joni is a retired nurse, ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) survivor, and an environmental advocate.

CHEERS

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter in the series and that you will be back tomorrow for more.