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

On By Mike U.In Poetry

Hi, folks. “Walking Tree,” a recent poetic collaboration with esteemed poet Joni Caggiano, is now available at LatinosUSA. Many thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this collaboration, and, of course, to Joni for inviting me to work with her on this piece. It was such an honor and a delight to team up with such a brilliant writer and cherished friend. Joni’s deeply moving writing and stunning photography can be found 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” © 2026 collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley

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3 thoughts on ““Walking Tree,” a collaborative poem by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at LatinosUSA”

  1. Mike, thanks again, my friend for the pleasure of this collaboration. I am very grateful to Mich as well, and know you are too. It was such a joy and a dream come true working with you. Big hugs from both of us.

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