
fading, my heart envisions
a ripe fig molting tan skin
lying like a sad mason jar
empty, left alone, with a scar
odors float like memories
sparrows sing their hope
your face a repeat movie reel
fingers weep aching to feel
your body folding into mine
tears of laughter jumping
rolling over hills of bare skin
my music, lives, where you’ve been
-JONI CAGGIANO
Joni’s blog is Rum and Robots, where she has published poetry, photography, and short stories. Take a look at Joni’s work in Spillwords Press NYC, Vita Brevis Press, The Finest Example, The Tiny Seed Literary Journal, I Write Her – The Short of it, and MasticadoresUSA. Joni’s work was included in the following anthologies: The Sound of Brilliance (The Short of It Publishing, Volume 1 2020), Inner Eye (Poets Choice, 2021), and It’s Not Easy (Poets Choice 2021). Her blog is an effort to give back – she is a surviving Adult Child of Alcoholics. Joni is a retired nurse and paralegal.
You can also read her writing on Instagram @jonicaggiano and Twitter @theinnerchild1.

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Beautiful Joni, as always! 👌❤️👏 These lines were just gorgeous and captured the emotions perfectly! 👍
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“your face a repeat movie reel
fingers weep aching to feel
your body folding into mine”
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Hi Ken so nice to see you here, thank you very much for you very thoughtful comment. Big hugs and blessings to you and the family. Joni
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You’re very welcome Joni, always a pleasure! 🙏😁😊
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So many exquisite lines in this piece. What a lovely read! 💚
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Thank you Cassa for reading and for your sweet comment. I am loving the new photograph with your hat, beautiful! Have a blessed week. Joni
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Thank you. Your work is always joy to read Joni! Sending love 💚
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Thank you so much Cassa, I feel the same about yours. Blessings to you my friend. 🦋
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Joni’s words have a wonderful tendency of caressing the senses. The lines basically read like visuals with the mind taking off to explore the depths of the varied emotions. I love when love and sorrow mix together to give the heart a soft nudge. Memories take us to so many places and we revisit people, places, and incidents that might have been left behind. But the pleasure of knowing that they remain alive inside us is so reassuring. Joy or hurt make us what we are, forever evolving our identities.
Congratulations Joni!
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Thank you so much Terveen for your kind words, they always mean so much to me. You have such an amazing gift at getting right to the meaning of everyone’s work so beautifully, you sure make us writers feel so appreciated. I am so glad to be here, thanks so much for having me. Hugs and gratitude, Joni
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So beautiful 💕
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Hello Grace thank you so much for reading and I am so glad you enjoyed it. Blessings to you, enjoy the rest of your week, Joni
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My pleasure, Joni.💕
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🦋🦋
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The emotions …ahh felt in every word…well done Joni..
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Oh thank you so much for reading and your kindness it is much appreciated Mich.
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Yes, sparrows sing their hope, just like us.
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Oh I am so glad you liked that line. Thank you so much for reading. I love the movement of hundreds of sparrows as they weave. To me it is like a dance. Have a really blessed week. Hugs, Joni
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Perfect verses, the image crafted with precision! Lovely work indeed my friend!
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Thank you so much for your most gracious comment Francis and for reading. 🦋
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It’s always a pleasure Joni. Lots of love and big hugs 🤗 from Greece 🇬🇷
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Good Lord!!! This completely sinks deep in and makes my heart ache for a long-time friend/lover who is such a knowing/known part of life…..sigh. Just absolutely gorgeous, dear Joni. Thank You. Wow. And Thank You, Terveen, for publishing!!!!! Cheers! ❤️
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Good late morning here in WA State beautiful Katydid. I am so delighted that you read the rest of my piece here and commented my absolutely gracious friend. Some day you will in fact have this as you are far to talented and kind to not find someone to cherish you. Sending my love and thanks again for reading here. Love Joni (Try to stay cool)
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Awwwwww. All-ways my absolute pleasure reading Your amazing words, my beautiful friend!!! And Thank You for this sweetness!!! Sending Love and HUGE cool hugs right back!!! 🤗❤️😊
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Thank you so much my very kind friend. Keep spreading that happiness and love. 🦋❤️🌹🥰🐉🧜♀️🧚🏻🧜♀️
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🤗🐲🧚🏽💕🌴💐😊
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Such a beautiful piece Joni painting such a picture with rich imagery that takes us on a journey of the soul and ends in loving arms. Nicely done my friend closer than far!
💖💖
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Cindy sweetie I don’t know how I didn’t see this amazingly kind comment. That you for this. Sending you big hugs and lots of love. 🦋❤️🤗🌹🥰
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Well, I’m glad you are seeing it now. So much deserved! you are very gifted. Thanks for the love and hugs. 💖💖💖
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Oh Joni. you have an Old Master’s touch for painting love scenes both delicate and passionate . As human beings we should not forget our place as an integral part of Nature.. It is not merely a backdrop, or a metaphor.. You are so good at subtly reminding us of this truth. Your love poems encompass all of the parts. 🤗 Much love to you Joni, ❤️
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Dearest Karima you understand me so very well. My poems about love are often drawn from the first young man I loved as he was my safe place when things were so crazy with my parents. I could get away with him and feel safe for a few hours a day in high school. We always were where nature was. I feel such a close connection with trees, birds, and all mammals. I know you are much the same way my friend. Thank you for always reading me here it means a lot to me. I am sending so much love, hugs and blessings for happiness always, Love Joni
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Beautiful poetry Joni 💕🌸 and a always capturing the imagination with your creative writing.
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Oh thank you kindly Henrietta for reading and for you lovely comment. I appreciate you visiting here. Big hugs and lots of love, Joni
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Exquisitely worded, Joni 💜
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Thank you so very much for reading and the kind comment my new friend. Blessings, Joni
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Very lovely Joni! Each of your words have the power to stir emotions. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👏👏
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