“My Life Reads Like a Suicide Note” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry37 Comments

Greetings, friends. My poem “My Life Reads Like a Suicide Note” is now live at Hotel by Masticadores. I’m so thankful to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this unusually dark and intense poem. Much gratitude to you, Michelle, for being willing to share writing that deals with difficult subjects. We all have voices that need to be heard.

“My Life Reads Like a Suicide Note”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

“my old man died alone
on a busted sofa
on a September farm
in the middle
of nowhere
with a gut full of
prescription drugs
and a poorly scrawled note
left on the kitchen table

“something went wrong
in my head”

it said

he checked out
without tipping
the bellboy
the cheap fuck
remorseless
to the end

and in his
final act
on planet earth
he also killed
me…”

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“My Life Reads Like a Suicide Note” by Michael L. Utley

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

My Poem “The Daisy Ring” Nominated for 2026 Best of the Net Award

On By Mike U.In Poetry70 Comments

Hey, everyone. I’m excited to share some good news with you. My poem “The Daisy Ring” has been nominated for the 2026 Best of the Net Award. It’s an honor for me, and I’m so grateful to editor Michelle Navajas of Hotel by Masticadores for thinking highly enough of my poem to nominate it. What’s more, I count several good friends among Michelle’s other nominees and I’m thrilled for all of them and wish them the very best of luck.

For those unfamiliar with this annual award, here’s what The Best of the Net’s website has to say:

“The Best of the Net is an awards-based anthology designed to grant a platform to a diverse and growing collection of writers and publishers who are building an online literary landscape that seeks to break free of traditional publishing. This space has been created to bring greater respect to the continually expanding world of exceptional digital publishing.”

You can read more about the annual award and its anthology here:

Best of the Net Anthology

Also, you can view all of Michelle’s nominees here:

Hotel By Masticadores Proudly Announces Its Nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net

And finally, a link to my poem:

“The Daisy Ring” by Michael L. Utley

Congratulations to all the other nominees, and thanks again, Michelle, for your kindness and for believing in my writing.

“A Few Haiku (21)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry27 Comments

Greetings, folks. Gobblers by Masticadores has published the latest installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (21).” These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. Much appreciation goes to editor Manuela Timofte for her kindness in sharing these little ones with her readers. I hope you like them.

“A Few Haiku (21)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#121)

old rain barrel
dark waters of
forgotten dreams

…..

(#122)

first snow
white kiku on
autumn’s casket

…..

(#123)

stone cairns
mark my future; stone heart
marks my past

You can read the rest of this mini-collection here:

A Few Haiku (21)

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

“Craggy Rocks & Twin Lakes” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Photography29 Comments

Hey, everyone. Gobblers by Masticadores has published another of my nature photography images titled  “Craggy Rocks & Twin Lakes.” Sincere thanks to editor Manuela Timofte for her kindness in sharing this image with her readers.

You can view the image and its accompanying commentary here:

Craggy Rocks & Twin Lakes

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

“Prudent; Rational”

On By Mike U.In Essays, Poetry

“Prudent; Rational”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

“I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”  Charlie Kirk, April 2023

…..

San Ysidro McDonald’s massacre, San Ysidro, CA, 1984 – 22 dead/9 injured
USPS shooting, Edmund, OK, 1986 – 15/6

prudent; rational

GMAC massacre, Jacksonville, FL, 1990 – 10/4
Luby’s massacre, Killeen, TX, 1991 – 24/20

prudent; rational

Columbine High School massacre, Littleton, CO, 1999 – 13/24
Red Lake massacre, Red Lake, MN, 2005 – 10/5

prudent; rational

Virginia Tech University massacre, Blacksburg, VA, 2007 – 32/23
Binghamton shootings, Binghamton, NY, 2009 – 14/4

prudent; rational

Fort Hood massacre, Fort Hood, TX, 2009 – 13/31
Aurora theater shooting, Aurora, CO, 2012 – 12/70

prudent; rational

Sandy Hook Elementary massacre, Newtown, CT, 2012 – 27/2
Washington Navy Yard shooting, Washington D.C., 2013 – 12/8

prudent; rational

San Bernardino mass shooting, San Bernardino, CA, 2015 – 14/21
Orlando night club massacre, Orlando, FL, 2016 – 49/53

prudent; rational

Las Vegas Strip massacre, Las Vegas, NV, 2017 – 60/546
Texas First Baptist Church massacre, Sutherland Springs, TX, 2017 – 26/20

prudent; rational

Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School massacre, Parkland, FL, 2018 – 17/17
Santa Fe High School shooting, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2018 – 10/13

prudent; rational

Tree of Life synagogue shooting, Pittsburgh, PA, 2018 – 11/6
Thousand Oaks nightclub shooting, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2018 – 12/22

prudent; rational

Virginia Beach municipal building shooting, Virginia Beach, VA , 2019 – 12/4
El Paso Walmart mass shooting, El Paso, TX, 2019 – 22/26

prudent; rational

Boulder supermarket shooting, Boulder, CO, 2021 – 10/0
Buffalo supermarket massacre, Buffalo, NY, 2022 – 10/3

prudent; rational

Robb Elementary School shooting, Uvalde, TX, 2022 – 21/17
LA dance studio mass shooting, Monterey Park, CA, 2023 – 11/10

prudent; rational

Maine bowling alley & bar shootings, Lewiston, ME, 2023 – 18/13
Utah Valley University shooting, Orem, UT, 2025 – 1

prudent; rational

…..

This is only a partial compilation of mass shootings in the U.S between 1982-2024. These instances refer to shootings with double-digit fatalities (except for the final listing, which was not a mass shooting but notable nonetheless for its irony); there are many, many more shootings not included due to limited space. This list by Mother Jones was used in this piece.

Mass shootings are defined as events in which four or more fatalities occur (excluding the shooter). Recent data from Everytown for Gun Safety shows that since 2015, more than 19,000 people have been killed in mass shootings in the United States (all of them presumably prudent, rational sacrifices, according to the late CK), with more than 686 mass shootings in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The statistics for mass shootings with fewer than four fatalities between 2015-2022 represent 95% of all mass shootings, with 3,533 incidents. The US averages more mass shootings than days in the year.

Giffords Law Center reports that more than 46,000 Americans die annually as a result of gun violence. That’s 125/day on average, with more than 461,000 dead since 2015. The number of guns in the United States totals more than 400 MILLION (population ~345 million). This article by The Intercept show that politically red states exhibit much higher levels of gun violence than blue states, in large part due to political ideology and lax gun laws. And with all the dark money flowing into morally corrupt republican politicians’ coffers from the Gun Lobby, this is not surprising. The GOP has sold its soul to the NRA and repeatedly shoots down (pun intended) any attempts by Democrats to pass common-sense gun legislation to curb gun violence and deaths.

Will these deaths be enough to satisfy those who demand blood sacrifice to protect “god-given” rights to amass vast arsenals of weapons and ammunition to achieve some twisted ideal of alpha manhood? Can any gun death be considered “prudent” or “rational?” What have we become when we glorify violence and bloodshed and vilify those who seek to end the carnage of mass shootings and other types of gun violence?

“One death is a tragedy, a million deaths a statistic.” – Joseph Stalin

“A Tanka Trio (10)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry15 Comments

Hi, everyone. The tenth installment of my tanka series titled “A Tanka Trio (10)” is now available at Gobblers by Masticadores. Each of these installments contains three tanka (be sure to click this link or the link below to read all of them). Thank you, Manuela Timofte, for sharing these tanka with your readers. You’re a wonderful editor and I appreciate all you do.

“A Tanka Trio (10)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#28)

Sere crone winter sheds
Iced waraji at the door
Hangs her hiemal veil
On the windows, frigid laugh
Desecrates the sacred place

…..

(#29)

Shima-enaga
Silver-throated winter-borne
Yuki no tori
Huddle in Hokkaido chill
Little clouds alight on branch

You can read the rest of this tanka installment here:

A Tanka Trio (10)

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

“The Grief of Winter” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry27 Comments

Hello, everyone. My poem “The Grief of Winter” is now available for your perusal at Hotel by Masticadores. I’m grateful to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this poem. Thank you so much for all you do, Michelle.

“The Grief of Winter”
(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley

“In each flake
a brief eternity
the grief of winter
as December bleeds out
and January’s hell awaits

there shall be
no insensate oblivion
no benignant Lethe
no purgatorial reprieve
awaiting us on eternity’s cusp

only the purulent spoils
of our own wretchedness
a just reward for
embracing hate
and abandoning compassion…”

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“The Grief of Winter” by Michael L. Utley

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

Congratulations to Maggie Watson–Spillwords Press Author of the Month for August 2025

On By Mike U.In General32 Comments
Image © Maggie Watson

A big shout-out to our friend Maggie Watson, who has been named Author of the Month for August 2025 at Spillwords Press. Maggie’s poem, “Holy Communion,” garnered the award, her second monthly win this year (she was also awarded Publication of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press). I’m delighted for her. It couldn’t have happened to a kinder, more wonderful person, and I’m so proud of her. Here’s wishing Maggie the best of luck in the year-end annual awards at Spillwords Press, where she’ll be a candidate in two categories. Yes, good things can, indeed, happen to good people. 😊

You can visit Maggie’s blog at Ephemeral Encounters.

“Rocky Mountain Columbine Cluster” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Photography12 Comments

Hey, friends. Another of my nature photography images titled  “Rocky Mountain Columbine Cluster” is now live at Gobblers by Masticadores. Big thanks to editor Manuela Timofte for sharing this image of my all-time favorite wild flower species (it’s also Colorado’s state flower). Much appreciated, Manuela.

You can view the image and its accompanying commentary here:

Rocky Mountain Columbine Cluster

Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers by Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

Our Friend Maggie Watson Nominated for Author of the Month for August 2025 at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In General36 Comments

A bit of exciting news, folks. My good friend and superb poet Maggie Watson has been nominated for Writer of the Month for August 2025 at Spillwords Press. Earlier this year, Maggie won the award for Publication of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press, so she’s on a roll. I want to ask all of you to check out her latest offering at Spillwords Press, a magnificent piece titled “Holy Communion,” then give her a vote of support. She is absolutely deserving of this award.

Voting for Author of the Month for August 2025 ends August 28. You may cast your vote here:

Spillwords Press Author of the Month for August 2025

You can also experience Maggie’s sublime poetry on her blog, Ephemeral Encounters. Maggie’s writing is intense, at times brutal, always courageous, and deeply personal, and I admire her as both a writer and a person.

Help support our writing community by casting your vote for our friend Maggie, will you?