Category: Poetry

“A Tanka Trio (7)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry36 Comments

Hello, friends. The seventh installment of my tanka series titled “A Tanka Trio (7)” 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). I appreciate editor Manuela Timofte for sharing this installment with her readers. Many thanks, Manuela.

“A Tanka Trio (7)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#19)

When I sought knowledge
I opened my eyes and ears
When I sought wisdom
I opened my mind and heart
Rain and sunshine for my soul

…..

(#20)

In my winter dreams
I walk barefoot in the spring
Sink my toes in loam
In the green konara copse
Gathering the brown acorns

You can read the rest of this tanka installment here:

A Tanka Trio (7)

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.

“A Poet’s Lamentation” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry43 Comments

Hello, folks. I’d like to announce my poem “A Poet’s Lamentation” is now live at Hotel by Masticadores. Kindest thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this poem with her estimable readers. I’m truly grateful, Michelle.

“A Poet’s Lamentation”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

“pardon my sorrow
and forgive my weeping soul
my humble supplication
loosed into the void on raven’s wings
to fall on deafened ears of fickle gods…”

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“A Poet’s Lamentation”© 2025 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.

“A Few Haiku (18)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry38 Comments

Hi, friends. The latest installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (18)” is now available at Gobblers by Masticadores. These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. As always, much gratitude to editor Manuela Timofte for sharing this mini-collection. Here’s hoping you find these little ones enjoyable.

“A Few Haiku (18)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#103)

Bones of the earth split
Emaciated world’s skin
Granite ribs protrude

…..

(#104)

Holes in waraji
Worn through soles through countless years
My soul worse for wear

…..

(#105)

Deafened ears can hear
Whispered symphonies of earth
Deafened hearts ignore

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

A Few Haiku (18)

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.

My Interview Featured at Collaborature

On By Mike U.In Poetry30 Comments

Hey, everyone. My friend and esteemed writer Melissa Lemay was kind enough to conduct an interview with me recently and it’s now live at her website Collaborature. It’s difficult to find someone as talented, supportive and compassionate as Melissa—she’s certainly a beacon of light in our writing community. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Melissa. It’s always fun to talk about writing and I hope your readers enjoy the interview. You can find it here:

“Baring Our Souls on the Page: An Interview with Michael L. Utley”

Be sure to peruse Collaborature while you’re there. It’s a place where creative people meet to work together, and there’s a lot of quality writing to experience.

“Bus Stop” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry33 Comments

Hi, friends. I want to let you know my poem “Bus Stop” has been published at Hotel by Masticadores. Many thanks to Editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this poem with her readers. Thanks a bunch, 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

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

“A Few Haiku & Senryu (63)”

On By Mike U.In Poetry52 Comments

© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

(#373)

burning stars
pinpoints of candle light caught
in her tears

…..

(#374)

in my sorrow
my words struggle to take flight
the empty page

…..

(#375)

in my quiet world
poetry exists not in my ears
but in my heart

…..

(#376)

children played here once
now only ghosts linger
this broken world

…..

(#377)

lock the temple doors
we mustn’t let reality
taint our holy minds

….

(#378)

our humanity
bleeds out in Gaza and Ukraine
just another day

“A Tanka Trio (6)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry28 Comments

Hey, everyone. The sixth installment of my tanka series titled “A Tanka Trio (6)” is now live 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). As always, much gratitude goes to Editor Manuela Timofte for sharing this installment with her readers. Thanks, Manuela!

“A Tanka Trio (6)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#16)

I would gladly give
All I have or ever will
For the simple truths
Of the frog in Basho’s pond
And Williams’ red wheelbarrow

…..

(#17)

On a cattail
A dragonfly preens his wings
Iridescently
There is beauty everywhere
If only my heart could see

You can read the rest of this tanka installment here:

A Tanka Trio (6)

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.

My Interview: Q&A Author of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry46 Comments
Image © Spillwords Press

Hi, friends. Recently, editor Dagmara K. at Spillwords Press was kind enough to interview me after I was named Author of the Month for April 2025 for my poem “The Bonfire.” I’m deeply grateful to Dagmara and her team for this opportunity to share a little of myself. If you’d like to discover a bit about my writing background and creative inspiration, you can find the interview here:

Q&A Author of the Month 2025 Interview with Michael L. Utley at Spillwords Press

Thank you, Dagmara, for your kindness in sharing my poetry with your readers. It’s always a thrill to see my writing published alongside that of so many talented authors at Spillwords Press. And thank you, my fellow WordPress friends, for your constant support and encouragement. I appreciate all of you more than you can ever imagine.

“A Few Haiku (17)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry39 Comments

Hello, everyone. Another installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (17)” is now live at Gobblers by Masticadores. These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. Many thanks to Editor Manuela Timofte for publishing this mini-collection. I hope you enjoy them.

“A Few Haiku (17)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#97)

I have burned my hands
In the furnace of the past
Stoking memories

…..

(#98)

Stars write arias
For the bashful moon to sing
But who will listen

…..

(#99)

I have made my peace
Sitting under willow trees
In the green shadows

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

A Few Haiku (17)

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.

Check out Paper Bless–a new YouTube Channel for scrapbooking

On By Mike U.In Poetry36 Comments

Hey, everyone. A good friend of mine has started a new YouTube channel called Paper Bless for scrapbooking, and she was kind enough to incorporate one of my haiku into her most recent project—a short video collage. It’s really cool and I wanted to share this with all of you to spread the word about her new channel. So, please take a moment if you can to click the link to visit Paper Bless for scrapbooking and see her beautiful art. I’m honored that she thought highly enough of my haiku to use it in her project. Truly grateful, in fact! And be sure to like and subscribe to her channel if you enjoy her creative spirit (I did!). 😊

Paper Bless Channel on YouTube