Category: Poetry

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

On By Mike U.In Poetry13 Comments

Hey, everybody. Just a note to let you know my poem “The Trunk” is now live at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. My sincere appreciation goes to Manuela for her generosity in sharing this poem.

“The Trunk”
(c) 2021 by Michael L. Utley

There is a place for things
That don’t belong in
Other places
That sere and weathered
Trunk that hunkers lupine-like
Amid dust-addled attic shadows
Wood split and gouged
With time and neglect
Iron bands and fittings
A crumble of rust
Lockless clasp broken
From endless breeches
And pryings
I should have
Replaced that lock
Eons ago
The ill-fitting lid
Is too loose
More decoration
Than function
And tends to rattle
Of its own accord
Far too often
For what’s inside wants to
Breathe
Stretch
Pop knuckles
Champ teeth
And feed
And only I can
Contain it…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

The Trunk

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

“Bus Stop” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry23 Comments

Hello, folks. I’d like to let you know my poem “Bus Stop” is now available to read at LatinosUSA. Much gratitude goes to esteemed editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this poem with all of you. Sincerely appreciated, Michelle.

“Bus Stop”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

she stood there
stoic and still
as a river rock cairn
at the crossroads
bus stop
every afternoon
alone
save for her
reluctant shadow
that always seemed
to pull away from her
clawing at the gravel
to unpin itself from this
dirty-faced girl
with willow whip arms
and a mangled knot
of corn silk hair…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“Bus Stop” 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.

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

On By Mike U.In Poetry28 Comments

Hi, folks. My poem “Threads” is now available for your perusal at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. Many thanks to Manuela for her kindness in sharing this poem with her readers.

You can read my poem here (no teaser this time as it’s a very brief poem):

Threads

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

“From Tsukiko, While Watching the Moon” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry29 Comments

Hi, everyone. I’m pleased to announce my poem “From Tsukiko, While Watching the Moon” has been published at LatinosUSA. A sincere thanks to editor Michelle Navajas, who always goes above and beyond, for choosing to share this poem with her readers. It’s truly an honor, and I’m grateful for you kindness, Michelle.

“From Tsukiko, While Watching the Moon”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

I have waited long enough
among midnight forests
and somnolent bamboo groves
the furtive whispers
of pensive yurei
a forlorn supplication
to dissolve further
into the rayless world
of lost souls
to seek the sleep
of bōkyaku

cloistered among
susurrating reeds
I bathe my feet
in Sanzu’s nocturnal tears
adorned in fragrant
willow shadows
as koi drowse
in the depths of dreams
and kitsune slink
clandestinely
their night-thoughts
unfathomable…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“From Tsukiko, While Watching the Moon”© 2025 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.

“Forgotten” published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In a Love World

On By Mike U.In Poetry9 Comments

Hello, everyone. My poem “Forgotten” is now live at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. Thank you so much, Manuela, for sharing this poem. Truly appreciated.

“Forgotten”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

Those who fade away
Dust-covered and forgotten
Hushed in melancholy thought

Those of us denied
Peering through the river reeds
Watching joy drift out of reach

Who will remember
Those abandoned on the path
Those who fall by the wayside

We the silent ones
Mournful ones invisible
Just a burden nothing more…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

Forgotten

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

“The Daisy Ring” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry18 Comments

Greetings, friends. Just a note to let you know my poem “The Daisy Ring” has been published at LatinosUSA. Editor Michelle Navajas does such a wonderful job of sharing various writers’ offerings with her readers and it’s always an honor to be published by her. I’m sincerely grateful, Michelle.

“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”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.

My Poem “Wisdom” Featured in Nigel Byng’s Exploring Poetry Series

On By Mike U.In Poetry37 Comments

Hey, friends. The estimable and supremely talented Nigel Byng has graciously featured my poem “Wisdom” in his Exploring Poetry initiative on his blog Helping You To Succeed. This series explores the poetry of various authors as Nigel reads each piece and takes a deep-dive of analysis and interpretation to explore beyond the words. I am absolutely honored and humbled to have one of my poems included in this series. Nigel is an accomplished storyteller and poet, and his kindness and generosity are well-known in this WordPress writing community. He makes it his mission to lift up fellow writers, to shine the light on others, and to offer compassionate support and encouragement. He most definitely represents the very best of this community, and it’s my profound pleasure to call him my friend.

You can check out Nigel’s reading and analysis of my poem here:

Exploring Poetry – A weekly reading series – Ep 9: Wisdom by Michael L. Utley

Also, be sure to take your own deep-dive into Nigel’s short fiction and poetry on his blog. He is blessed with uncanny ability and keen insight into the human condition. Simply put, he’s brilliant.

Helping You To Succeed

Thank you, my brother Nigel, for this wonderful gift. You presence in this community is a godsend and I’m beyond grateful for your kindness and support.

“Heroic” published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In a Love World

On By Mike U.In Poetry24 Comments

Hi, folks. My poem “Heroic” has been published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. Many thanks to Manuela for sharing this poem. Truly grateful for your kind gesture, Manuela.

“Heroic”
© 2013 by Michael L. Utley

The kid was too young
This distant uncanny boy
Face absconded
Into the murky depths of his
Drenched and threadbare
Crimson hoodie
Eyes mere pinpricks
Of sentience in the shadows
Where his face should be
On this pouring midnight
Sidewalk where even the rain seemed
Exhausted in the scornful cones
Of streetlamp illumination
And unseen clouds sighed above
Too tired for the bluster and pretense
Of thunder
And he sat there in this mess of a night
On a bench where no bus would ever stop
For anyone at anytime for any reason
Staring into the distance at both
Something and nothing at once
Moveless save for an occasional shiver
Waiting for someone or something
Or perhaps nothing at all…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

Heroic

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

“This World is Yours” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry27 Comments

Hello, everyone. My poem “This World is Yours” has been published at LatinosUSA. Sincere thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this piece with her readers. I’m truly grateful, Michelle.

“This World is Yours”
© 2023 by Michael L. Utley

you thought you could
save the world
wee lad
you couldn’t even
save yourself

those bleak nighthawk skies
where dead stars fall
like blood-bloated flies
and fey winds howl
in deafened ears
a behemoth’s fetid exhalation
violent and ignorant
and inexorable

breathe
breathe it all in
the sweat-soaked fear
the bitter tang of futility
fill your lungs
wee lad
this world is yours
as far as tear-blurred
eyes can see…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“This World is Yours” 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.

“January’s Scion” Published at Manuela Timofte’s In A Love World Blog

On By Mike U.In Poetry16 Comments

Hey, friends. Just want to let you know my poem “January’s Scion” has been published at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. I’m grateful to Manuela for her kindness in sharing this piece with all of you.

“January’s Scion”
© 2022 by Michael L. Utley

January’s scion, born of winter
messenger of midnight’s dark domain
harbinger of fearful futures
herald of the past’s persistence
bearer of remembrances of
what shall surely be

I’ve succumbed to January’s Janus
peering ever forward and behind
frozen firmly on the threshold
of what was and what may soon be
doomed to bear the weight of all things
for eternity…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

January’s Scion

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