Month: January 2025

Spillwords Press 2025 Awards–Voting ends January 31!

On By Mike U.In Poetry25 Comments
Image © Michael L. Utley

Hey, friends. Voting for the Spillwords Press 2025 Awards is wrapping up on January 31, so if you haven’t yet cast your vote there’s still time to check out the nominees and vote for those whose work appeals to you the most. My poem “This World is Yours” is nominated for Publication of the Year in the Poetry category and you can read it by clicking this link. Among the host of nominees this year are several of my blogging friends and I wish all of them the best of luck. We’re all in this together as a community, so a win for one is a win for all in my book.

To vote, you’ll need to register, but it’s painless and takes only a couple of minutes. Voting participation strengthens our writing community and fosters a thriving creative atmosphere, so please consider participating if you’d like.

You may cast your vote here:

https://spillwords.com/vote/

On a personal note, as I have no social media presence whatsoever, it’s been difficult to get the word out about my own nomination, so if you enjoy my poem, please don’t hesitate to spread the word. It would mean a lot to me for my writing to reach as many readers as possible.

Here’s wishing the best for all the nominees in all the categories. Thank you for the support you’ve given to us along the way.

My poem “This World is Yours” nominated for Poetic Publication of the Year for Spillwords Press 2025 Writing Awards

On By Mike U.In Poetry58 Comments
Image © Michael L. Utley

Hey, friends. I’m excited to announce my poem “This World is Yours” has been nominated for Poetic Publication of the Year for the Spillwords Press 2025 Writing Awards. This nomination is both an incredible honor and deeply humbling. I’m grateful to Dagmara K. and her staff for publishing my poem and for this wonderful opportunity.

If you’d care to cast your vote for my poem, all you need to do is register at Spillwords Press (it’s free and takes only a couple of minutes). Voting runs from January 26 through January 31. You may cast your vote by following this link:  https://spillwords.com/vote/

I’ve mentioned before that people who know me understand that self-promotion is not my forte so this sort of thing is a bit awkward for me. I don’t have any social media presence whatsoever so it’s difficult to get the word out. I believe these awards should be merit-based on the quality of the writing, not on social media popularity. It’s my sincere hope you’ll take a few minutes to read my poem and cast your vote, and if you enjoy my poem, please spread the word. I’d be beyond delighted to have your support. I’ve always believed my poetry should do the talking, not me, so if you find my poem worthy of your vote, I’d appreciate it so much.

Congratulations and all the best to all the other nominees. 

“A Tanka Trio (2)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry31 Comments

I’m happy to announce the second installment of my tanka series titled “A Tanka Trio (2)” is now available at Gobblers by Masticadores. Each of these installments contains three tanka (be sure to click this link to read all of them). Many thanks to Editor Manuela Timofte for sharing this installment. I hope these appeal to you.

“A Tanka Trio (2)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#4)

Northern memories
Chill my heart as bitter cold
Crystallizes tears
Frozen shame adorns my face
Wind howls in my lonely soul

…..

(#5)

My heart spills itself
Upon the ground like untied
Bags of grain carried
Carelessly upon the back
Thoughtless birds feast on my tears

You can read the rest of this tanka installment here:

A Tanka Trio (2)

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

“Clarity” published at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry30 Comments

Hello, everyone. I’m pleased to announce my poem “Clarity” has been published at Spillwords Press. Sincere thanks to Dagmara K. and her team for publishing this piece. I truly appreciate this opportunity. I hope it finds favor with you.

“Clarity”
© 2024 by Michael L. Utley

“in my twilight world the seasons blur
snow on flowers, freezing summer rain
I seek clarity

dim uncertainty
gloaming settles on this silent vale
neither night nor day exists for me

in the mist beyond the frozen stream
yurei whisper in the burning woods
Yomi’s fey lament

nowhere left to go
hesitance and indecisiveness
stranded on the threshold of the fates…”

You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. And once you’re there, take some time to check out the work of many other talented writers at Spillwords Press, where you’ll find a treasure trove of good writing.

“A Few Haiku (11)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry41 Comments

Hi, friends. Just a note to announce the eleventh installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (11)” is now available at Gobblers by Masticadores. These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. As always, many thanks to Editor Manuela Timofte for publishing this mini-collection. Here’s hoping these little ones appeal to you.

“A Few Haiku (11)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#61)

Earth, sea and sky have
Tales to tell; be patient
For they speak slowly

…..

(#62)

I attain wisdom
Not from church or pagoda
But from woods and streams

…..

(#63)

When winter wind blows
All pretense is torn away
Bares my soul to all

You can read the rest of this mini-collection here:

A Few Haiku (11)

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

“I Can Hear the Water Cry” and “I am the Coin that Falls Between the Cracks” published at Chewers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry30 Comments

I’m pleased to announce two of my poems–“I Can Hear the Water Cry” and “I am the Coin the Falls Between the Cracks”–have been published at Chewers by Masticadores. A sincere thank you to Editor Nolcha Fox and her team for sharing my poetry with their readers. It’s definitely an honor for me. Thank you, Nolcha, for this opportunity.

“I Can Hear the Water Cry”
(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley

“misty river bank
I can hear the water cry
through its mournful veil

from whence your tears
my friend
from whence your sorrow
the stream of life
long and arduous
promises nothing
takes wantonly
yet gives freely
drowns dreams
yet slakes hope’s thirst
erodes time
yet blesses leas
with hue and humor…”

…..

“I am the Coin that Falls Between the Cracks”
(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley

“parts of me have died
that no one will ever know
nor will ever mourn
and why should they
I am just a remnant of myself
writ small among the vagaries of life

I am the coin that falls between the cracks
the sub-aural hum of power lines
the mote-specked silence of barn lofts
the dull glint of galaxies
as seen through rheumic eyes
I am the shadow
in the corner
of my cold
listless
mind…”

I’d be delighted if you’d read the rest of my poems in their entirety here:

2 Poems by Michael L. Utley

Also, be sure to follow and subscribe to Chewers by Masticadores. It’s a wonderful place for those who love writing.

“A Few Haiku (10)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry33 Comments

Hey, everyone. The tenth installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (10)” is now live at Gobblers by Masticadores. These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. I’d like to thank Editor Manuela Timofte for publishing this mini-collection. I hope you enjoy them.

“A Few Haiku (10)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#55)

Caught like wounded prey
In sharp fangs of granite crags
Dusk sun spills its blood

…..

(#56)

Those coins that fall through
Gaps in floorboards forgotten
Like old memories

…..

(#57)

My heart recalls you
Like my broken bleeding thumb
Recalls the hammer

You can read the rest of this mini-collection here:

A Few Haiku (10)

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

Diana Wallace Peach’s latest novel Tale of the Seasons’ Weaver launches today

On By Mike U.In Previews / Reviews44 Comments
Image © Diana Wallace Peach

Hey, folks. I’m excited to share the news that Diana Wallace Peach’s latest novel Tale of the Seasons’ Weaver has launched today. For those of you already acquainted with Diana and her work, you know she’s an incredibly talented writer whose mastery of the fantasy genre is peerless. For those of you who are unfamiliar with her, you’re in for a real treat. This estimable and prolific author is more than just an accomplished writer–she’s also one of the most intelligent, kind and supportive people you’ll ever meet on WordPress. Her impact reaches far beyond simply crafting imaginative masterworks of fantasy for her legions of readers to enjoy. Her eagerness to encourage and support other writers has made this WordPress community a warm and welcoming place.

Tale of the Seasons’ Weaver is available on Kindle, KU and in paperback. Please check out Diana’s announcement post here for more information on this new release and her other magnificent novels:

Tale of the Seasons’ Weaver Launch Day

Here’s wishing you the best of success with this new offering, Diana!