I’m pleased to announce my poem “The Footbridge” has been published at Gobblers & Masticadores. Sincere thanks to Juan Re Crivello and Manuela Timofte and their staff for this opportunity. I’m truly grateful. Thank you, Juan and Manuela!
“The Footbridge” (c) 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 by clicking this link. Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers & Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.
“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
amid the howl of eternity there are worlds upon worlds fractal multiverses strewn with thoughtless hubris across heaven’s filthy floor the dice of fate, kismet’s craps as reckless gods play with the lives of men and alabaster-eyed sentinels gaze blankly distant and aloof into the cackling abyss
once, beneath a leaden sky a sweltering path led me through shag-barked copses and desiccated thickets to an obscure clearing and there in midday gloaming a spring appeared and I knelt at water’s edge seeking desperately for my reflection proof of my existence which eluded me upon the stagnant rancid larval-glutted surface I sought to see my soul but instead espied the foul machinations of a craven universe amid pond scum and the stench of reality and as I fled in horror the pealing laughter of amused gods rent the sky
there are sink-holes in my soul where I’ve lost myself along the way suffocating in tenebrosity the detritus of shame trailing behind me marking my path from tepid light to torpid darkness from inutile hope to abject despair the inconsequential bric-a-brac of 22,000 days fallen from the cabinets of my heart shattered shards of worthless memories my mind a stuttering dynamo choking on its own fumes
I have lost myself in this desert of alkali flats and creosote bushes that leech all moisture from my eyes rendering tears unfeasible seeking shelter from this thoughtless sun and the mindlessness of my existence
take my hand if you dare and I shall show you a broken soul a half-hearted man a mind in free-fall a dumb dying animal too cowardly to drop to the dust and merge with oblivion a leprous life in exile among incurious stars shunned by callous sun and careless moon and exhausted beyond measure a half-life every atom radiating a numbness of spirit
my lost soul slides languidly toward day’s end
and when my somber sun sets none shall be the wiser
This ongoing initiative showcases blogs with fewer than 500 subscribers which I think are deserving of more attention. Hopefully these blogs will spark your interest and you’ll check them out. It’s my way of spreading awareness of talented writers whose work I admire.
This week’s featured blog is Kirsten Curcio’s Ghost Human Bones. Kirsten is without a doubt one of the coolest, kindest and most talented writers I’ve come to know on WordPress and I’m happy to call her my friend. She possesses peerless skill and ability writing prose—both individual stories and serials—and her poetry is sublime. Kirsten also has the most uniquely creative and eye-catching graphic design I’ve seen on a literary blog. Her immense talents are on full display with everything she creates.
Kirsten’s writing has been published at Masticadores, The Writers Club, Reedsy, Medium and Spillwords Press. You can view her Author Bio at Spillwords here:
Additionally, her poem “Hopes and Dreams” is included in the poetry anthology Hidden in Childhood, published in 2023 by Gabriela Maria Milton of Literary Revelations Publishing House, and is available here:
I asked Kirsten if she would provide a little info about herself and her writing. Here’s what she had to say:
“I’ve always enjoyed writing since I was a child but once I got the internet everything changed. The earliest I started writing online was in the early 2000s where I roleplayed in wrestling efeds as different fictional characters – I was in a weird phase but I still heart Stone Cold Steve Austin, haha. When those sites went belly up, I shared my pre-teen angst on the now defunct Melodramatic.com, which is where I learned HTML and created layouts for other people’s sites (you can find more about Melo on the Wayback Machine). Then college came, work, my son was born, and I stopped writing for a very long time, although I never forgot about it. It wasn’t until I lived in North Carolina for a few years that I decided to build my own site and write. That state is so beautiful it just ignited that spark in me. But since I gave birth to my daughter then and was working from home full time, I started a lifestyle blog on Squarespace. I was experimenting with cooking, writing up recipes, baby and beauty stuff but it grew boring and I felt like I was doing it because that’s what other women were doing but it didn’t feel like “me”. So I returned to fiction and didn’t look back. In 2021, this became Ghost Human Bones when I moved to WordPress. Through Ghost Human Bones, I can turn my observations of people into words, letting me indulge in my love for dreaming and storytelling. Currently, I’m in the process of writing my first novel and my published poems are available on Spillwords and in the poetry anthology Hidden In Childhood (2023).”
And from her blog:
“When she isn’t playing with words, she enjoys nature, traveling, art, photography, and peculiar things. There is also a fondness for vintage maps, history, and space. In Kirsten’s work, she plays with themes of life, death, and beyond that evoke a sense of surrealism, nostalgia, reflection, and ambiguity.”
Kirsten also participated in a thoroughly enjoyable 2023 interview which can be found here:
I hope you’ll take a moment to stop by and visit Ghost Human Bones. Kirsten’s masterful wordcraft builds universes of adventure and intrigue that are highly original and will leave you eager to explore further.
Let’s spread the love and support our fellow bloggers.
Hey, folks. I’d like to announce my three-part poem “Grandfather” has gone live at Gobblers & Masticadores. Many thanks to Juan Re Crivello and Manuela Timofte and their staff for this opportunity. I’m truly grateful. Thank you, Juan and Manuela!
“The twitching thing that lay upon the bed Was not my grandfather. It wore his face And smelled of him, old coffee and a trace Of cigarettes. Its eyes were rimmed with red And rheumy and they twinkled in its head Like distant dying stars. And in that place Deep down inside where man and mind embrace My grandfather had lost his mind and fled…”
You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers & Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.
I’m excited to announce my poem “The Snow That Never Falls” has been published at Chewers & Masticadores. Sincere thanks to Juan Re Crivello and Nolcha Fox and their team for this opportunity. It’s always an honor to share my work at Chewers & Masticadores. Thank you, Juan and Nolcha!
“The Snow That Never Falls” (c) 2021 by Michael L. Utley
“The snow that never falls cannot assuage The sorrow of the autumn’s grim defeat There is no balm For open wounds No gilded cup To slake the dying season’s thirst No whispered words to quell the fear Of failing heart Forsaken soul Abandoned hope There is no honor in autumn’s demise In absence of the snow that never falls…”
I’d be delighted if you’d read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. Also, be sure to follow and subscribe to Chewers & Masticadores. It’s a wonderful place for those who love writing.
This ongoing initiative showcases blogs with fewer than 500 subscribers which I think are deserving of more attention. Hopefully these blogs will spark your interest and you’ll check them out. It’s my way of spreading awareness of talented writers whose work I admire.
This week’s featured blog is Peggy Writes, a truly wonderful inspirational blog by Peggy Stroud. I first became aware of Peggy’s blog a couple of years ago when she left a nice comment on one of my posts. While checking out her blog, I immediately noticed a couple of things: Peggy is an excellent writer, and her sincerity, honesty and enthusiasm really shine.
I was struck by the easy flow of her words and how she conveys important messages in a seemingly effortless manner. Anyone who writes well knows that effective writing is difficult to achieve and requires not only talent but years of practice. Peggy’s writing shows a dedication to her craft that produces results that are both educational and enjoyable to behold.
Peggy’s natural inclination to support and encourage others is boundless, her kindness refreshing. I often refer to her as a “light-bringer” due to the hope offered by her messages. She is someone I consider a dear friend, as well.
I asked Peggy if she could provide a few words about her blog and herself:
“I have always loved working with children, reading and writing. After a much-loved career in teaching, a blessed time as a stay-at-home mom, and a stint as bookkeeper for my husband’s business, I and my husband retired to the foothills of Virginia. I began my new calling as a Christian blogger and hopeful children’s book writer. I publish two blogs each week, one for adults and one for children so that families can be in God’s word together.”
I’m well aware of Peggy’s aspirations of publishing children’s books. It’s my great hope that she succeeds in this quest. Her talent and dedication are obviously apparent, and her background as a teacher and mother offers her a uniquely qualified perspective. So, never give up on your dreams, Peggy!
I hope you’ll take some time and explore Peggy Writes. It’s a place of light and hope.
Let’s spread the love and support our fellow bloggers.
I’m delighted to announce my poem “Eleven Days” has gone live at Gobblers & Masticadores. Sincere thanks to Juan Re Crivello and Manuela Timofte and their staff for this chance to share my poetry with their readers. I’m truly grateful. Thank you, Juan and Manuela!
“Eleven Days” (c) 2021 by Michael L. Utley
“The wind blows Those shadows deeper Into gloaming recesses Of pine corridors As aspens Denuded and shamed By autumn’s fickle fury Huddle shivering In dim dusk
In my heart Those eleven days Of silence tore me apart…”
You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers & Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.
“Snap-beans in a Wooden Bowl” (c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley
snap-beans in a wooden bowl and tears on her cheeks my mother’s sorrow exorcised by the rite of working hands the ritual of silent contemplation as evening sun gilded her world in holy ephemera her safe place ensconced in her own sacred light her garden her universe
the weeds she hoed during languid summer days of sun-burned neck and aching back how many belonged to her how many the memories of fear and violence in desperate need of eradication her rough ancient hoe her crucifix against my father’s rage her blisters turned to calluses turned to armor her fingers bent with age and arthritis yet strong enough to hold herself together day by day to contain the tears the anger the horror
corn silk her hair was corn silk as she merged with row upon row of papery whispering stalks her naked feet rooting into earth deeply deeply where her spirit lived safe in cool moist soil a fertile loam a secret energy regenerating her scarred soul daily only to be shattered nightly the cycle of the seasons her heart always an autumn heart forever offering harvest to all, then burned to the ground without a thought as my father’s winter approached
I passed her one evening as she sat snapping beans in a wooden bowl her bare feet beagle-draped farm cats lurking amid squash blossoms the westering sun haloing her tired face and she gazed at the distant horizon staring at the empty world a faraway smile nearly touching her eyes as a tear fell among broken beans in her lap and she looked at me then and her smile was terrible an anguish I’d never seen before and I knew that she knew there was nothing either of us could do
This ongoing initiative showcases blogs with fewer than 500 subscribers which I think are deserving of more attention. Hopefully these blogs will spark your interest and you’ll check them out. It’s my way of spreading awareness of talented writers whose work I admire.
This week’s featured blog is Nigel Byng’s Helping You To Succeed. Many of you are likely familiar with Nigel’s exemplary craftsmanship when it comes to prose and poetry. His brilliant short fiction—both stand-alone tales and serials–displays a sensitive finger on the pulse of humanity’s triumphs and sorrows, while his deeply moving and excruciatingly honest poetry shows a heart and soul attuned to the most raw human emotions.
Nigel’s work has been published at various Masticadores literary sites as well as Spillwords Press, where one of his poems, “To Surrender Now,” was nominated for Publication of the Month for Jan/Feb 2024. Nigel has most recently helped spearhead the #whattheydontsee project in cooperation with Michelle Ayon Navajas (editor, Masticadores Philippines) and artist Vanessa Melecio, which provides an opportunity for people to express their hidden fear, pain and regret in a safe manner through the written word.
On a personal note, I don’t just consider Nigel a fellow writer. He’s so much more than that. His compassion, kindness, honesty and intelligence portray a golden heart and soul, and I’m glad to call him my friend.
From Nigel’s blog:
“Writing brings the world to life. My soul, my experiences, my secrets, they all fuel the things I put on paper. I am a freelance writer living in West Palm Beach. I observe and write about nearly everything and everyone I encounter. I have learnt that if I look at the world carefully, and long enough, I see a reflection of myself in everything. After all, we are what we put into the world.”
Perhaps this recent post will illustrate Nigel’s deft literary touch and his ability to connect with his readers:
If you’re familiar with Nigel’s work, you already understand the joy of his craft. If you’re not, consider stopping by his blog and experiencing his unique talents. It’s absolutely worth it.
Let’s spread the love and support our fellow bloggers.
Silent Pariah 