“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

I hope you’ll consider following and subscribing to LatinosUSA–a place of unique visions and creative voices from around the world.

18 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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    1. Thanks, Joni, and the feeling is mutual, for sure. Here’s to more collaborations in the future. And yes, Michelle is such a stalwart supporter of writers and most definitely deservers a big shout-out for providing a home for our writing.

      Wishing you and Scott the best, my friends. ☺️

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  5. Hi ya our friend, thank you for your kind words. We had so much fun doing this. By the way your book is still doing really well. Just so happy and grateful for your support, Nigel, you are one talented man. Big hugs from both of us.

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  6. Dear Mike, this is one of those poems that lingers long after the final line. The imagery is both haunting and profoundly beautiful, capturing the weight of grief while quietly preserving the hope that healing is still possible. Congratulations to you and Joni on such a powerful collaboration—it is deeply moving and wonderfully crafted.👍❤️

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    1. Thank you, Saima. It was a grand experience to team up with Joni on this piece. She’s such a good writer, and her use of natural imagery is sublime. I’m so glad to know this one found favor with you, dear friend. 😊

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    1. Thanks so much, Diana. Your support has always been so appreciated, and it’s good to see you pop in to say hi. It was a thrill to write with Joni, and I’m grateful to Michelle for publishing this piece. ☺️

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  8. Diana, so great to see you here. It was such a joy working with Mike. I have had a dream of collaborating with him for so long – I considered it an honor. We are also still huddled in nature mostly and enjoying the deer, wild turkey, hummingbirds and other beauty all around us. It brings us both peace. Thank you so much for your kind comments, I know that Mike appreciates your support of his work and I am always flattered to hear from you as well. You are an amazing writer – I have not gotten the courage up to try that yet! Maybe when the time is right. Big hugs

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