“Walking Tree,” a collaborative poem by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry

Hello, everyone. Recently, I collaborated with esteemed poet Joni Caggiano to create a piece of poetry, and this poem, “Walking Tree,” is now available at Hotel by Masticadores. A special thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this collaborative effort, and, of course, to Joni for asking me to work with her on this piece. It was truly an honor to team up with such a brilliant writer and wonderful friend. Joni’s profound and moving writing and beautiful photography can be experienced on her blog, Rum and Robots.

“Walking Tree”

© 2026 collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley

sorrow whispers, a trail of ants
vapors torpid, their sting savage
memories choke, a riff on my sanity
night terrors open a door; I navigate

this silence is not silence
it is the groaning of eternity
the synaptic death-throes of
what once made me human

innate images, a stolen span of time
sacred sensations indelibly imprinted
naked bodies on airbrushed fields
heat rises, a bashful sun misleads

the stones of the fallow field
understand this moribund keening
in their granite hearts
atoms tremble and thrum…

You can read the rest of our poem here:

“Walking Tree” Collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley © 2026

Also, please consider following and subscribing to Hotel by Masticadores, where you’ll discover a world of wonderfully imaginative and profound writing.

34 thoughts on ““Walking Tree,” a collaborative poem by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at Hotel by Masticadores”

    1. Thanks a whole bunch, Maggie. Your kindness is boundless and very much appreciated. Joni is a stellar collab partner, for sure, and we had a lot of fun teaming up. Enjoy your week, my friend. 😊

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  2. Dearest Mike, first thank you for all your gracious words. You are too kind. It was such a privilege to work with you. I hold you in such high esteem and have been following you at least since 2022. I was blown away with your work and still am.

    You are a brilliant poet and photographer. We always look forward to reading anything you write and I always read your work a few times. You are a strong mentor of mine and you have a gift of concrete writing without giving too much away – you make the reader work to understand what is happening without explaining the emotional side. Something I am working on, thanks to writing with you.

    Thanks again to Hotel for publishing this piece and Mike your collaboration with me means the world. We are both sending you wishes for a great week.

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    1. Hi, Joni. It was absolutely my pleasure to work with you on this piece. I’ve looked up to you as a writer and person since our first interaction more than four years ago. I read your poetry and always think, man, I wish I could write like that. You raise the bar so ridiculously high with your brilliance, and I think anyone who reads your work can learn from your mastery of the craft. Additionally, I think anyone should be honored to collaborate with you and would see their own writing ability improve in the process.

      So, thanks for inviting me to write this piece with you, my friend. Wishing you and Scott a grand week ahead. 😊

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      1. I would give you a big hug if you were here right now, my dear friend for all your kind words. I don’t do many collaborations so this was a dream of me to collaborate with you. I am so glad you agreed and a poem was born from a wee beginning.

        You are such a talent and I learn from you everytime I read you, Mike. I will always say there are too many similarities in the way we grew up and so much more, that it was meant for us to meet. I have always thought that God connects us to the people in life who will enrich our lives by helping each other through our work, which you most assuredly have been an invaluable validation for many of my feelings that are easily triggered over the many years we have been following each other.

        Scott says the same thing, it is almost like we could have been siblings. Anyway congratulations and thank you my friend.

        Big hugs from both of us Mike.

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    1. Hi, Joanne. Thank you so much for your constant support. I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed this poem. Joni is a spectacular poet, and I was delighted to work with her on this piece.

      Wishing you a safe and peaceful week. 😊

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    1. Thanks a million, Carol. This was such an enjoyable piece to write. Joni’s a master with words, and our individual stanzas just flowed together so smoothly. What an honor for me to participate in this collaboration with her.

      Enjoy your week. 😊

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      1. You are welcome Mike!
        Joni is a lovely person, as are you.
        I am WP’s most sluggish, haphazard blogger.
        Part of that is not often commenting due to Spam issues.
        Thank you for writing your poetry. I appreciate & enjoy it!

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    1. Thanks, Lauren. I’m new to collaborating with other writers, and this experience with Joni was a delight. She’s brilliant. Glad to know you enjoyed this piece.

      Wishing you a good rest o’ the week, my friend. 😊

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    1. Thanks so much, Linda. This is actually just a snippet of the poem. You can read the full piece over at Hotel by Masticadores if you’d like (just follow the link).

      Hope you’re doing well and enjoying your cooler season. We’re getting hotter and drier up here in southwest Colorado. 😊

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  13. Congratulations, dear Mike 😊
    There is a rare tenderness in this poem’s darkness. The Walking Tree feels like a reflection of the soul itself—scarred by loss, sustained by memory, and yet quietly moving toward life. Haunting imagery, profound emotion, and a lingering beauty that stays long after the final line. A remarkable collaboration.👍

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