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

Hey, everyone. My poem “The Footbridge” is available for your perusal at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. Sincere thanks to Manuela for her kindness in sharing my poetry on her wonderful blog.

“The Footbridge”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

That derelict footbridge
Has finally failed
Stranding us on
Opposite shores
Of the abyss
Words
Like rotted planks
Litter the gorge
Below
Desires and dreams
Dashed
Upon indifferent rocks
Silence is all
I hear from you…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

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

“There Were Daisies,” a collaborative story by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at Hotel by Masticadores

Photo © Joni Caggiano

Greetings, folks. Just a note to let you know “There Were Daisies,” a new story collaboration with my friend and poet extraordinaire Joni Caggiano, is available at Hotel by Masticadores. A big tip o’ the cap goes to Joni for sharing this adventure with me and providing her uniquely lyrical and profound writing. You can find more of Joni’s poetry, prose and photography on her blog Rum and Robots. Also, many thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for sharing this story with her readers. Be sure to check out Michelle’s new book Afternoons That Tasted Like Love in Manilla.

An excerpt from “There Were Daisies”:

The sickly pond, lifeless, the hue of bad dreams and uneasy regrets, fumed quietly, forever giving up its pallid ghost to the aloof heavens. With anguish stinging my dry eyes, I was drawn to a fleeting remembrance…

We sniff petrichor, my wife’s smile brighter than the morning sun. An early kiss of water on the green grass in fertile soil draws us toward a tender embrace. We interlace fingers and hold tight, clinging to this treasured happenstance. We hear the sigh of the oaks and see a white quilt of dandelions and daisies dotting our clear pond. Fish jump as frogs meander along the edge. Bass notes from bullfrogs cling to our ears as my wife begins to pirouette barefoot, and I am without words, enamored and in love with her grace.

Ghosts, my mind whispered, this is a world of ghosts, ephemeral, intangible memories that linger in shadows and call in soundless cries to no one. Where once was life, now there is only the torpid peal of silent bells amid an eternal night…

You can read the rest of our story here:

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

“Walking Tree,” a collaborative poem by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at LatinosUSA

Hi, folks. “Walking Tree,” a recent poetic collaboration with esteemed poet Joni Caggiano, is now available at LatinosUSA. Many thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this collaboration, and, of course, to Joni for inviting me to work with her on this piece. It was such an honor and a delight to team up with such a brilliant writer and cherished friend. Joni’s deeply moving writing and stunning photography can be found on her blog, Rum and Robots.

“Walking Tree”
© 2026 collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley

sorrow whispers, a trail of ants
vapors torpid, their sting savage
memories choke, a riff on my sanity
night terrors open a door; I navigate

this silence is not silence
it is the groaning of eternity
the synaptic death-throes of
what once made me human

innate images, a stolen span of time
sacred sensations indelibly imprinted
naked bodies on airbrushed fields
heat rises, a bashful sun misleads

the stones of the fallow field
understand this moribund keening
in their granite hearts
atoms tremble and thrum…

You can read the rest of our poem here:

I hope you’ll consider following and subscribing to LatinosUSA–a place of unique visions and creative voices from around the world.

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

Hi, friends. My poem “Fade” is now available at Manuela Timofte’s blog In A Love World. I’m grateful to Manuela for continuing to share my poetry with her readers.

“Fade”
© 2021 by Michael L. Utley

Dusk has fallen as
Stars scream heavenward and doves
Murmur mournfully
Evening-song has come and I
Cannot hear day’s parting cry

Night blooms above as
Insects whisper mysteries
And wolves share solemn
Oaths on phantom breeze and I
Cannot hear dark’s somber sigh…

You can read the rest of my poem here:

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

“Walking Tree,” a collaborative poem by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley, published at Hotel by Masticadores

Hello, everyone. Recently, I collaborated with esteemed poet Joni Caggiano to create a piece of poetry, and this poem, “Walking Tree,” is now available at Hotel by Masticadores. A special thanks to editor Michelle Navajas for publishing this collaborative effort, and, of course, to Joni for asking me to work with her on this piece. It was truly an honor to team up with such a brilliant writer and wonderful friend. Joni’s profound and moving writing and beautiful photography can be experienced on her blog, Rum and Robots.

“Walking Tree”

© 2026 collaboration by Joni Caggiano and Mike Utley

sorrow whispers, a trail of ants
vapors torpid, their sting savage
memories choke, a riff on my sanity
night terrors open a door; I navigate

this silence is not silence
it is the groaning of eternity
the synaptic death-throes of
what once made me human

innate images, a stolen span of time
sacred sensations indelibly imprinted
naked bodies on airbrushed fields
heat rises, a bashful sun misleads

the stones of the fallow field
understand this moribund keening
in their granite hearts
atoms tremble and thrum…

You can read the rest of our poem here:

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 LatinosUSA

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:

I hope you’ll consider following and subscribing to LatinosUSA–a place of unique visions and creative voices from around the world.

“The Daisy Ring” published at LatinosUSA

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:

I hope you’ll consider following and subscribing to LatinosUSA–a place of unique visions and creative voices from around the world.

“The Cairn” published at LatinosUSA

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:

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)”

© 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

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 hope you’ll consider following and subscribing to LatinosUSA–a place of unique visions and creative voices from around the world.