Tag: creative writing

I’ve Been Nominated for Author of the Year for the Spillwords Press 2026 Awards

On By Mike U.In Poetry75 Comments
Image © Spillwords Press

Hey, everyone. I’m delighted to announce I’ve been nominated for Author of the Year at Spillwords Press for my poem “The Bonfire.”  This Spillwords Press 2026 Awards nomination is more than just an honor for me, it’s a validation of my voice as a deaf, introverted writer who wants desperately to connect with people. I’m grateful to Dagmara K. and her staff for publishing my poem and for this wonderful opportunity.

You can read my poem here:

https://spillwords.com/the-bonfire/

If you’d care to vote for me, all you need to do is register at Spillwords Press (it’s free and takes only a couple of minutes). Voting runs from January 26 through January 30. You may cast your vote by following this link: 

https://spillwords.com/vote/

People who know me understand that self-promotion is not my strong point so this sort of thing is always awkward for me. I don’t have any social media presence whatsoever so it’s difficult to get the word out. I believe these awards should be merit-based on the quality of the writing, not on social media popularity. With that said, it’s my sincere hope you’ll take a few minutes to read my poem and cast your vote, and if you enjoy my poem, please spread the word. I’d be beyond grateful to have your support. I’ve always believed my poetry should do the talking, not me, so if you find my poem worthy of your vote for Author of the Year, I’d appreciate it so much.

As an exciting side note, a couple of my good blogging friends are up for awards as well. Maggie Watson has been nominated for both Author of the Year and Publication of the Year, and Lauren Scott is in the running for Publication of the Year. I’m so proud of both of these friends for the recognition of their excellence and I wish both of them the best of luck in the voting.

Congratulations and all the best to all the other nominees. 

“The Cairn” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry36 Comments

Hello, friends. Just a quick note to let you know my poem “The Cairn” is now available at LatinosUSA. Many thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for being so kind as to publish this piece. Truly appreciated, Michelle.

“The Cairn”
© 2023 by Michael L. Utley

a handful of stones
the currency of a hardened heart
cannot purchase a reprieve
from the weight of mountains
upon my soul

scree of memories
who can navigate the slope
of ankle-breaking regrets
the sharpened shale
of the empty slate
where hope
was once etched
and now only
dust remains…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“The Cairn”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.

“A Few Haiku & Senryu (64)”

On By Mike U.In Poetry43 Comments

© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

(#379)

my life
bereft of kin and ken
December trees

…..

(#380)

a whisper of hope
just enough
to tear me to pieces

…..

(#381)

these heavy skies
and the burdens they carry
dove’s cries

…..

(#382)

expectant hush
beginnings and endings
we yearn for both

…..

(#383)

don’t ask of my heart
there are dark places therein
even I fear to tread

…..

(#384)

a journey
of a thousand lies begins with
“I love you”

“A Few Haiku (23)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry21 Comments

Hey, friends. If you’re in the mood for some haiku and senryu, Gobblers by Masticadores has published the latest installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (23).” These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. Many thanks to editor Manuela Timofte for sharing my poetry with all of you.

“A Few Haiku (23)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#133)

winter blizzard
mountain’s clouded mind confused
avalanche of thoughts

…..

(#134)

my life stains the page
complicated crimson kanji
too obscure to read
…..

(#135)

arctic kitsune
little blizzard stalks the drifts
crimson raicho plumes

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

A Few Haiku (23)

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.

“I’ve Come at Last to Anhedonia” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry19 Comments

Hey, folks. My poem “I’ve Come at Last to Anhedonia” is now available at LatinosUSA. Much gratitude to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this piece. Sincerely appreciated, Michelle.

“I’ve Come at Last to Anhedonia”
© 2023 by Michael L. Utley

“I’ve come at last to Anhedonia
that bleak and melancholy land
beyond the god-forsaken desert sand
far ‘cross the sea of memories
where sunlight fades and none has e’er returned…”

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“I’ve Come at Last to Anhedonia” 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.

“Anchor” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry27 Comments

Just a note to let you know Gobblers by Masticadores has published my poem titled “Anchor.” Thanks to editor Manuela Timofte for her kindness in sharing this piece with all of you.

“Anchor”
© 2022 by Michael L. Utley

“she sat there
9,000 miles away
on the edge of her bed
or the ledge of her building
I never knew which
and talked about anchors
and the black depths
of depression
and what it would feel like
to fly…”

You can read the rest of my poem here:

Anchor

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 Few Haiku (22)” published at Gobblers by Masticadoress

On By Mike U.In Poetry15 Comments

Hey, folks. More haiku and senryu for your perusal as Gobblers by Masticadores has published the latest installment of my short haiku/senryu collections titled “A Few Haiku (22).” These small collections consist of six haiku and/or senryu. Sincere thanks to editor Manuela Timofte for this opportunity to share my poetry with all of you.

“A Few Haiku (22)”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#127)

serrated sea shells
flay unfeeling fleeing feet
my numb soul bleeds out

…..

(#128)

bits of blue shell
and broken soul mark my fall
from heaven’s nest

…..

(#129)

old pond and ocean
renewed with each thunderstorm
my soul begs for rain

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

A Few Haiku (22)

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.

“Idyllic” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry28 Comments

Hello, everyone. My poem “Idyllic” is now available for your perusal at Hotel by Masticadores. I’m grateful to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this piece, which is an unapologetic, unvarnished rendition of what rural life is really like in parts of this lost and broken country. Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this dark poem with with your readers.

“Idyllic”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

“Leroy blew his
fingers off with
blasting caps he stole
from some old granary
and he’d chew on the
blackened stumps
while waiting
for the school bus
like some kind of
hard dude
like he didn’t feel
a thing
I hated him
but I understood
numbness
and I knew he was
dead inside
knowing his
little sisters
were never
coming back
from that long-ago
pile of twisted metal
on the highway
he was sixteen
and already
an old man…“

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“Idyllic”© 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 Tanka Trio (11)” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry31 Comments

Hi, friends. The eleventh installment of my tanka series titled “A Tanka Trio (11)” 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). Many kind thanks to Editor Manuela Timofte for publishing these tanka. Very much appreciated, Manuela.

“A Tanka Trio (11)”
©2022 by Michael L. Utley

(#31)

my exhausted faith
flows just as the drift ice flows
breaks and melts away
heaven’s reflection blurring
in the sea’s saltwater tears

….

(#32)

I catch the water
dripping from the icicles
in a mason jar
as a gentle reminder
that I do not weep alone

You can read the rest of this tanka installment here:

A Tanka Trio (11)

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 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.