Tag: despair

“The Cairn” published at LatinosUSA

On By Mike U.In Poetry24 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”

“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 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.

“How Swift the Stream” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry37 Comments

Hey, friends. I’d like to let you know my poem “How Swift the Stream” is now live at Hotel by Masticadores. Many thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this poem. It’s an honor and a delight, Michelle.

“How Swift the Stream”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

“as gloaming eventide stalks dying light
to ambuscade the remnants of the day
diurnal requiems give way to night
how quick the gloom
eviscerates its prey

regretful skiffs of shame contuse the dusk
as shadows skulking on earth’s wretched rind
asphyxiate its palpitating husk
how cruel the dark
and all it renders blind…”

You can read the rest of my poem here:

“How Swift the Stream”© 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 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.

“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.

“From Tsukiko, While Watching the Moon” published at Hotel by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry34 Comments

Hi, everyone. Just a note to let you know my poem “From Tsukiko, While Watching the Moon” has been published at Hotel by Masticadores. Sincere thanks to Editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this poem. Your kindness means a lot to me, 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” 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.