Author: Mike U.

“When Field Work is Done” published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World

On By Mike U.In Poetry15 Comments

Greetings, folks. My poem “When Field Work is Done” has been published on Manuela Timofte’s In A Love World blog. Many thanks, Manuela, for your generous support of my poetry. Much appreciated.

“When Field Work is Done”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

When field work is done and soil tells
A tale of fragrant earth in russet tones
When ground-mist hunkers in secluded dells
And eventide descends upon the swells
Of solemn and discordant distant bells

I follow god-beams west, these tired bones
Sun-gilded in the cool remains of day
As fields pass beside the cobblestones
And honey-hives a-swarm with buzzing drones
And cudding cow in pasture lows and moans

The neighbor’s barn, a faded sun-bleached gray
Leans sleepily as I approach the bend
Where cobblestones succumb to moistened clay
And farm cats mouse-hunt stealthily in hay
And foals and piglets gambol as they play…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

When Field Work is Done

Also, please consider following and subscribing to In A Love World, a place where wonderful poetry abounds.

Reblog: Driving with Hearing Loss

On By Mike U.In Reblogs21 Comments

Imagine driving home one evening after dark. It’s been a long day, you’re exhausted, and all you want to do is grab a bite and shed the worries of the day on your sofa in front of the TV. Suddenly, those dreaded red and blue lights appear in your rear-view mirror and, having no idea whether you’ve done anything wrong, you pull over onto the shoulder and kill the motor. A cop approaches your car, knocks on your window, shines a supernova-bright flashlight into your face and proceeds to question you. You’re temporarily blinded, nervous and frustrated, wondering why this is happening. You’re also deaf and have no idea what the cop is saying. You can’t lip-read if you can’t see his face, and you can’t hear his voice—there’s no way to understand what’s going on. Confusion ensues. Next thing you know, you’re being detained for suspicion of driving while under the influence simply because you’re driving deaf.

Or, imagine yourself behind the wheel, minding your own business, completely unaware of the ambulance or firetruck on your tail, siren blaring. Once you see the strobes, you’re immediately overcome with panic and humiliation as you quickly maneuver out of the way, allowing the emergency vehicle to speed past, hoping your deafness has not caused harm to anyone.

This is what it’s like to drive while deaf.

I originally began this blog five years ago in the hopes I could meet other people like myself—folks who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (HoH) and socially isolated, folks who don’t know sign language and have no friends or support systems to help them navigate their silent world. And while I failed in my attempt to meet deaf people—and subsequently changed directions with my blog—I’m still deaf and I still wrestle with this disability every moment of my life. I have a series of six essays here on my blog detailing my story if anyone is interested in learning what deafness is really like, and while writing those essays I attempted to portray honestly what it’s like to be deaf in a hearing world. It isn’t easy, and while I don’t want any sympathy, I hope for understanding among hearing folks, as well as acceptance and compassion. After all, we’re all in this together.

A couple of days ago, a kind gentleman named Mark Vanderbilt reached out to me through my blog and shared an article regarding driving while deaf. He granted me permission to reblog it here, so I’m providing this link to this most informative piece:

Driving with Hearing Loss

As for myself, I’ve been unable to drive for the past seven-and-a-half years due to peripheral neuropathy in my lower legs and feet, so I no longer own my old Ford Ranger 4×4 and no longer worry about this issue, but millions of other deaf and HoH people are still affected. Since then, I’ve become cognizant of advances in technology and common-sense approaches to assist and improve deaf drivers’ awareness in traffic situations that can vastly improve safety and protect the rights of deaf people behind the wheel. Many of these are mentioned in Mark’s article and may benefit anyone within the entire spectrum of deafness.

So, if you or anyone you know is deaf or hard-of-hearing, this article may shed some light on ways to help deaf people drive more safely. There’s help out there, and I appreciate Mark’s kindness in contacting me and sharing this valuable information.

“The Apple Tree” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry31 Comments

Hello, everyone. My poem “The Apple Tree” has been published at LatinosUSA. Sincere gratitude goes to editor Nolcha Fox for sharing this poem with all of you. Thanks a bunch, Nolcha.

“The Apple Tree”
© 2013 by Michael L. Utley

The apple tree
Behind the house
Has long ago
Stopped bearing fruit

It stands alone
In sickness bold
Half its branches
Dead or dying

Leaves the hue
Of summers past
Defy the sun
The pouring rain

Bound there in
White-knuckled grip
On mournful twigs
On listless boughs

As autumn fades
The leaves succumb
Each one a
Small gold suicide

Each gilded drop
A dying spark
A universe now
Mute in death…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“The Apple Tree” by Michael L. Utley

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

“The Daisy Ring” published at Manuela Timofte’s Blog In A Love World

On By Mike U.In Poetry25 Comments

Hi, friends. Manuela Timofte has kindly published my poem “The Daisy Ring” on her blog In A Love World. I’m grateful for Manuela’s continued support of my writing. Her blog is a treasure trove of international poetry, and well worth the visit. Thanks so much, Manuela.

“The Daisy Ring”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

“I found thee in a faerie copse…”

“Hmm?” she murmured
Her gaze caught somewhere
In the rainy neon night-world
Beyond the coffee shop window
Her fingers weightless
Feather-like
In my hand
Ethereal
Furnace-hot

“I found thee in a faerie copse
Alighting on each flower fair
And as I ‘proached thee in the hopes
Of snaring thee in lovers’ ropes
Thou disappeared into thin air…”

She looked at me then
A faint smile teasing
Her lips
“Your poetry is terrible,” she said…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

The Daisy Ring

Also, please consider following and subscribing to In A Love World, a place where wonderful poetry abounds.

“The Footbridge” published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World

On By Mike U.In Poetry21 Comments

Hey, everyone. My poem “The Footbridge” is available for your perusal at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. Sincere thanks to Manuela for her kindness in sharing my poetry on her wonderful blog.

“The Footbridge”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

That derelict footbridge
Has finally failed
Stranding us on
Opposite shores
Of the abyss
Words
Like rotted planks
Litter the gorge
Below
Desires and dreams
Dashed
Upon indifferent rocks
Silence is all
I hear from you…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

The Footbridge

Also, please consider following and subscribing to In A Love World, a place where wonderful poetry abounds.

“There Were Daisies,” a collaborative story by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Stories21 Comments
Photo © Joni Caggiano

Greetings, folks. Just a note to let you know “There Were Daisies,” a new story collaboration with my friend and poet extraordinaire Joni Caggiano, is available at Hotel by Masticadores. A big tip o’ the cap goes to Joni for sharing this adventure with me and providing her uniquely lyrical and profound writing. You can find more of Joni’s poetry, prose and photography on her blog Rum and Robots. Also, many thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this story with her readers. Be sure to check out Michelle’s new book Afternoons That Tasted Like Love in Manilla.

An excerpt from “There Were Daisies”:

The sickly pond, lifeless, the hue of bad dreams and uneasy regrets, fumed quietly, forever giving up its pallid ghost to the aloof heavens. With anguish stinging my dry eyes, I was drawn to a fleeting remembrance…

We sniff petrichor, my wife’s smile brighter than the morning sun. An early kiss of water on the green grass in fertile soil draws us toward a tender embrace. We interlace fingers and hold tight, clinging to this treasured happenstance. We hear the sigh of the oaks and see a white quilt of dandelions and daisies dotting our clear pond. Fish jump as frogs meander along the edge. Bass notes from bullfrogs cling to our ears as my wife begins to pirouette barefoot, and I am without words, enamored and in love with her grace.

Ghosts, my mind whispered, this is a world of ghosts, ephemeral, intangible memories that linger in shadows and call in soundless cries to no one. Where once was life, now there is only the torpid peal of silent bells amid an eternal night…

You can read the rest of our story here:

“There Were Daisies” © 2026 by Michael L. Utley and Joni Caggiano

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

“For Bonobo” (reprise)

On By Mike U.In Poetry35 Comments

“For Bonobo”
© 2016 by Michael L. Utley

I used to know a Bonobo
Who had a silly a grin
And every time I’d say “Hello”
He’d kick me in the shin

I’d feed him whey and kidney pie
It made his tummy sore
And when I’d tuck him into bed
He’d bite and scream and roar

He played guitar and learned to sing
A monkey tour de force
And afterwards could barely talk
His voice was much too hoarse

And then that fateful day arrived
When monkey ran away
To seek his fortune on the road
To be a man someday

The years have passed like faded leaves
That fall from solemn elms
I sit alone on evening porch
As sadness overwhelms

I watch the west as sun slips down
And stars alight the sky
Will Bonobo come home someday
To visit you and I?

Then hark! What’s that? A hirsute form
That gambols down the lane?
It’s Bonobo, my monkey friend
He’s coming home again!

He shares his tales of travels far
O’er whey and kidney pie
And plays guitar and sings his songs
With twinkles in his eye

And then it’s time to part again
My monkey friend and me
“I’ll come again another time,
I shall return, you’ll see!”

And so I’ll wait until that day
With happiness and glee
When Bonobo, my monkey friend
Comes back to visit me

(Author’s note: Before anyone objects, I do know bonobos are apes, not monkeys. However, for the sake of this piece, I threw caution (and facts) to the wind and used the term “monkey” instead. The term “monkey” just has a much more whimsical connotation than the term “ape.” So, some fact-bending and artistic license were employed. Also, this piece was written for a friend whose username was Bonobo, so changing the name would alter the purpose of the piece. Just a little background if anyone cares.)

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

On By Mike U.In Poetry19 Comments

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.

“Fade” published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World

On By Mike U.In Poetry19 Comments

Hi, friends. My poem “Fade” is now available at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. I’m grateful to Manuela for continuing to share my poetry with her readers.

“Fade”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

Dusk has fallen as
Stars scream heavenward and doves
Murmur mournfully
Evening-song has come and I
Cannot hear day’s parting cry

Night blooms above as
Insects whisper mysteries
And wolves share solemn
Oaths on phantom breeze and I
Cannot hear dark’s somber sigh…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

Fade

Also, please consider following and subscribing to In A Love World, a place where wonderful poetry abounds.

Michelle Ayon Navajas’ new book Afternoons That Tasted Like Love in Manila coming July 2026

On By Mike U.In Previews / Reviews20 Comments
Image by Michelle Ayon Navajas

Mark your calendars, everyone—July will usher in the newest book from prolific author/publisher/editor Michelle Ayon Navajas: Afternoons That Tasted Like Love in Manila.

Michelle is an international best-selling author of poetry and prose, editor of several online literary magazines, and a tireless advocate for victims of domestic abuse and violence. A former educator, she now operates her own publishing company, Michelle Ayon Navajas Publishing House, and actively supports and encourages writers of all levels.

Here’s what Michelle has to say about her upcoming book:

“This collection of flash fiction is my love letter to Manila—a city that lives in memory as much as it does in geography. Set against the backdrop of golden afternoons, crowded streets, familiar corners, and fleeting encounters, these stories explore love, loss, longing, and the quiet moments that leave lasting marks on our lives. They are stories about people finding each other and losing each other. About memories that linger long after the moment has passed. About the versions of ourselves we leave behind and the ones we carry forward. Most of all, they are stories about home. Not just the place we come from, but the places and people we continue to return to in our hearts. If you’ve ever missed a city, a person, or a former version of yourself, I hope you’ll find a piece of your own story in these pages.”

A personal note: I’ve known Michelle for a while now. As an editor, she’s published much of my poetry; as a publisher, she’s shared my poetry in her anthology dealing with domestic abuse and violence; as a friend, she’s been incredibly supportive and kind. Michelle represents what all of us should aspire to reach in our lives—a level of compassion, humility and genuine authenticity that spans boundaries and brings people together. It goes without saying that I’m beyond excited for her new book to hit the shelves. Afternoons That Tasted Like Love in Manila promises to be amazing, and I encourage you all to check it out when it launches in July.

Image by Michelle Ayon Navajas

Michelle’s personal blog is Michnavs – Poetry by Mich