“In Time to Come” published at Gobblers & Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry

I’m pleased to announce my poem “In Time to Come” has gone live at Gobblers & Masticadores. Many thanks to Juan Re Crivello and Manuela Timofte and their staff for this opportunity to share my poetry with their readers. It’s an honor and I’m truly grateful. Thanks so much, Juan and Manuela!

“In Time to Come”
(c) 2017 by Michael L. Utley

“She had that look about her again
Eyes like chips of coruscating amber
Caught in the westering sun
Her over-there gaze snagged
On some distant memory
Like thorn-caught thread
Hands prim and pale
In her denim lap
Amid foxtails and dandelions
And oak shadows…”

You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers & Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

53 thoughts on ““In Time to Come” published at Gobblers & Masticadores”

    1. Thank you. I’m sorry this one brought tears to you. I felt that way while writing it, and quite a few times since while reading it. I appreciate you and your wonderful support and kindness, my friend. 😊

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    1. Many thanks, Iseult. I had a very specific location in mind when I wrote this one and I, too, could feel the warmth of the setting sun and those razor-sharp edges of memories. This one was intense for me, so I’m happy to know it resonated with you. I appreciate you, my friend. Thanks as always for visiting. 😊

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  8. You have an innate talent at traversing time in your writing, Mike. I enjoy how you can track across environments and perspective in writing, almost like changing focus between the character-in-notion and you, as the narrator. Your detail to imagery and environmental sensory lends itself to such an evocation of emotion, without really actualizing the pov nor any statement of any kind within this piece. Though, the action and intent collect all the way through; this is certain. Perhaps, entirely more harrowing that way, than choosing the simple route of description.

    As if there is no question, to the existence of this realm, in which you write about. Taken as fact. Not story, nor even to be considered a poem really. More like telling the tale of a real long-endured time period, years after, while still finding and picking up the “Broken pieces of her”.

    “So much of her slate blank

    Her portrait only half-finished

    Before the paint dried out

    And the canvas rent asunder”

    is my favorite portion of the poem.

    as well as “Even the birds are quiet” following that masterpiece of a stanza, beforehand.

    Even if I feel quite low reading it through over and over, your work as a writer is quite enigmatic, imaginative, and daring. I feel you offer a sense of “escapism” that most readers, especially readers of poetry, are looking for that offer the internal gaze through the mirror provided and shorted by prose. I think poetry is an exceptional form of crossroads to convey, what is hard to convey in one’s mind or in conversation with humble whispered honesty; yet you drive this conception into dust and provide form and immense structure to it anyways, I believe.

    The experiences stated in the piece, the synchronistic detail driven from the odes of nature surrounding that formalize the emotional intent and meandering direction within time and tense, really breathe meaning into this piece. The verbal imagery of “Their razor edges.. Slicing my hands bloody” is pain-inducing just to read – more emotional and fatiguing, than the notion of physical pain could describe.

    I think you have obtained this immense capability of intrigue and dissemination in your overarching work as a writer. Your depth has the capability of making any reader, feel the feelings of what could be considered “commonplace emotions” and simply acts/situations/dilemmas of life in such a raw form of depth; even I feel I need to be honest with myself and the heartbreaks that everyone goes through within life. That which lingers, too.

    Keep up the good work, Mike. You continue to inspire me 🖤

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    1. Thanks so much, Sam. Your insights are fascinating. It’s always interesting to learn how readers feel about a piece of poetry. Poetry is such an intensely personal means of expression, and it’s open to interpretation according to the biases and experiences of the reader. It’s participatory. This piece is deeply personal to me, of course, as I watched her fade away and disappear and there was nothing I could to do help her. I’m still picking up those razor-sharp pieces of her from the oak-shadowed grass. I imagine I’ll be doing so for the foreseeable future, too. 

      I wanted a bit of surrealism for this piece, that eternal sunset reflected in her eyes, the portrait drying up, the birds silent, the memories scattered in the grass, the soft echoes of “I’ll tell you in time to come…” haunting me… There’s a silence to this poem, a stillness that signifies the stoppage of time, the pause between breaths and heartbeats. 

      Thanks for such a thorough appraisal, Sam. I’m honored to know this one spoke to you. I appreciate you, my friend. 😊🌞🌳

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    1. Many thanks, my good friend. Your kind words make me smile. Thank you for always supporting my poetry. I enjoy your visits and I hope your week is wonderful, my friend! 😊

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      1. rajkkhoja's avatar rajkkhoja

        Most welcome my close best friend. Iam so….so glad you like my comments. I hope your week going good. I always remember you. I always with you you go ahead & more poetry publish.You don’t forget me. I live very far but I always remember you & enjoyed your blog post.

        God bless you.

        Tack care

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    2. Thank you, dearest friend. I shall always remember you, too. You are a kind and wonderful person and I’m glad to be your friend. Yes, we’re very far away, but we get to talk here on my blog and that makes me happy. I wish you all the best, my friend! 😊🙏🌈

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    1. Thanks so much, Lauren. It’s certainly a sorrowful poem, with deep meaning for me. I’m glad it connected with you. It’s always a delight to see you stop by, too. I hope things are better for you and you’re enjoying your week. I appreciate you, my friend. 😊

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Peggy. A sad piece, for sure, but so cathartic to write. I’m glad you enjoyed this one, my friend. Thanks for stopping by to say hello! I hope your week is going well. 😊

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  16. One of those epic, sad, romantic journeys Mikey. You paint such a dramatic, Poignant, lonesome picture with your words. If you were a painter, if probably sir and watch you paint a mural for days. Watching how you craft, why you see, feel, dissect. This is good mate. 👏👏👏

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    1. Thank you kindly, Nigel. Painting with words is about the only type of painting I’m brave enough to do (I own the world-record for most awful acrylic-pine-tree-and-mountain-painting-by-an-8th-grader ever! 🤣). I’m glad this one connected with you, man. It’s one of my favorites and it holds some deep meaning for me. 😊

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