youthful buds whisper
tiny voices animate
stolen secrets weave
does, calves leaping
jesting with siblings
grassland tickles bare
shoulder, he is smitten
giggles come softly
fledgling’s plump lips
quiver as butterfly kisses
on soft velvety cheeks
elicit joyous moans
amidst tears, she utters
love you, my cherished
red-headed woodpecker
plays a jazzy drum beat
on the sliver haired
bald cypress with old knees
gray birds drop like
popcorn from small tree
newly-weds watch sunset
newborn wrens create
supper time sounds
sunsetting streaks sky
gold, yellow, and ginger
in God’s watchful eye
-JONI CAGGIANO
Joni is an internationally known and published poet, photographer, and author. She is a co-author of the Amazon #1 bestselling poetry anthology “Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women”, and the upcoming poetry anthology, “Hidden in Childhood” to be released late January 2023 by Literary Revelations. She is a regular contributor to MasticadoresIndia and a regular contributor to MasticadoresUSA and Spillwords Press NYC, where she has been twice nominated and won Publication of the Month for, “Love Me Like a Luna”, (November 2022). As a surviving Adult Child of Alcoholics (ACOA), Joni’s blog is Rum and Robots and her complete list of books, anthologies, magazines and contests can be found at Joni Caggiano’s Publications. Joni’s blog is an effort to help other ACOAs through faith and a strong kinship with nature. Joni is also a retired nurse.
You can also read her writing on Instagram @jonicaggiano and Twitter @theinnerchild1.
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MasticadoresIndia // Editora: Terveen Gill 
Joni’s lovely words are a symphony of colors and delightful sights. Spring is a time of birth, the new emerges to dispel the barrenness of winter. This poem personifies nature and delivers hope in so many wondrous scenes, fresh promises are delivered while love and peace prevail. It’s a time to be grateful, it’s a time to send thanks through gentle, little prayers.
Congratulations Joni!
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Thank you so much Terveen for your beautiful words and for this publication. I am certainly grateful to be here and thank you for that honor. Big hugs and have a blessed weekend. 🌹
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Everything is so alive! I love the woodpecker’s jazz drum the most. 😁💚
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Hi Cassa, thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad you liked the woodpecker’s jazz drum. I enjoy doing research on different animals when I write even a poem. That way I am learning something about our beautiful world at the same time. Sending big hugs and love, have a wonderful weekend. Joni
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Certainly do agree with you Terveen, Joni’s words are a symphony of colours and inspiration. She is a beautiful person with a precious heart and writes magnificently. Cheers Terveen for bringing forth her poetry.
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Thank you so much, Francis, for your very gracious words. Your comment touched me deeply, and I always appreciate you reading my work. You stirred my heart with your kind words about me as a person. Thank you again. You two have a very blessed weekend. Sending my love to you both. Big hugs, and our love, Joni
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It is always a pleasure Joni, our love to you both as well. Happy Friday!
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Thank you, Francis, our love to you two as well. Big hugs, Joni
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You’re welcome Joni! Our love to you both!
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The use of personification in this poem is brilliant in so many ways Joni. You brought colors and sounds to life right through my eyes with every syllable and every word.
Thank you for writing this beautiful piece🌹
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Thank you so much Mich for these very kind words. I appreciate you reading my work, and this lovely comment is very gracious. After reading these comments I am finding myself not knowing what to say, which is a rare thing. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and thank you again Mich. Big hugs and love, Joni
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You have the elegance of telling a story in prose and in poetry both with power and with calmness and solitude🌹 and that’s not just a skill but a gift.
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Thank you so much Mich. What a beautiful compliment. You have truly touched my heart. I so appreciate you! Hugs, Joni
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A lovely poem to usher in spring! Wonderful work, Joni!
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Thank you, Dawn, for reading my work, which is so appreciated. I am glad that you enjoyed this piece. It already feels like spring here and I worry the insects will get turned around again like last year. Some of the insects forgot to hibernate. Have a truly blessed weekend Dawn. Big hugs, Joni
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And we’re having a long, cold winter here! But the doves insist on building a nest anyways. Have a great weekend, too!
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It is so funny how they are; the wrens are doing the same thing here too. Thank you, Dawn. Big blessings and hugs to you my friend.
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Perfect! 🙂🌺❤️🌼
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Thank you so much for reading and thank you for your kind comment. ❤️🥰🤗
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My pleasure, always, Joni. 🙂❤️🌺
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you so much, John, for reading me here and for the kind reblog. I hope things are going well for you and there will be a spring soon where you live before too long. Sending big hugs and my love, Joni
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You are very graciously welcome. Things are well right now. I hope things are great with you.
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It’s as if you are painting a portrait of Spring, Joni stroke by stroke, element by element, color by color. The total finished picture…is just breathtaking. I love how your Spring fragments joined in a Spring whole feeling. Congratulations on your publication too. Much love Joni..❤️
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Karima, when will we see you here, my dear friend. Thank you so much for your kind and gracious comment. I have been trying to learn how to say more with less. As you know, as my friend, I am a wordy person. I will never forget when I wrote a story in a writing class, and the professor picked my piece to read. I sat there feeling all proud, to be perfectly honest. When she was done, she handed me my paper and said this was her example of a poorly written paper. I always think of Virginia Woolf’s, “To the Lighthouse.” She pioneered writing long sentences using, “a narrative device, called the flow of consciousness. Thank you for reading dear Karima, sending you much love too and I remember you in my prayers. We can never have too many of those can we? Much love to you always Karima.
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Aww much love to you my sweet friend and as far as when you will see me here, smiles, ask Terveen, she told me mine will be published soon yaay!! Long or short I have always loved your writing ❤️
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Yea! I am so glad we will see you here soon. You know Terveen makes wonderful small impactful movies. I still hope to here you are going to tell me you will be making a short animated movie about Klara. It would win an Oscar. Big hugs, love you, Joni 🌹🦋🌹
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Such a delightful poem Joni. I always love reading the comments from other artists, it’s so special. We also hear the woodpeckers beating a drum this time of year. Usually the metal box above the phone wires, or our rooftop chimney, where there is metal. I believer they are calling for a mate. Love much
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My dearest and longest friend, it is wild to think how long we have known each other. Such a wonderful gift. I love you for enjoying reading the comments because I know it makes you feel good to know I am loved by others and that you feel the love in our community. I think that is the sweetest thing that you read all the comments and liked them. I am not surprised your woodpecker is back. I think butterflies, hummingbirds, and other critters are naturally attracted to you. They can feel you are a good soul. I have seen it first hand. Love you dear Janette and you are never too far from my mind or my heart. Big hugs
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Your words are like rivers of sunshine painting joy and beauty Joni. Such a wonderful poem for the senses! ❣️
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Thank you so much Cindy. I appreciate your kindness. We have had a very warm winter and the bugs are going to be confused again. I was so happy to see you published again on Masticadores, and what a beautiful poem you wrote dear Cindy. I bet you are busy this time of year, and running at both ends. I hope you are having time to enjoy your beautiful family and that they get to visit often. Sending you great big hugs and lots of love Cindy!
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Crazy times Joni.
Try peppermint essential oil. I just told my daughter.
Thanks my friend!! Hugs and love to you and yours too!💕❤️💕
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Beautiful gift in words Joni with vilvid and most joyful reminders that spring is coming!❣️ Can’t wait! 💞
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It has already been in the 80s here but mainly in the ’70s then it will get cold like yesterday. The weather is nuts. The birds are building their nests and I wonder how confused they must be. Forget about the red ants, they have not even disappeared this winter. They can eat a small gecko in about an hour. Crazy and dangerous to dogs. Thanks for your sweet words Cindy, and no need to answer these comments, I am late getting to yours. Love you, Joni
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Oh my yes and the ants are marching and that is a fascinating fun fact about eating a small gecko 🦎 yikes!
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It’ a poem full of hope, and beauty. Spring with all her promise, all her sense of life. The flow gets born again, in a wish of better time.
I love it 💌
Myriam
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Myriam, thank you so much for reading me here. Your work is beautiful. You know, three sites publish in English, including MasticadoresRumania. All the editors are lovely and kind. I think they are all accepting new writers too. Big hugs and lots of love, Joni
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Thank you mlle Joni.
I did not knew about Masticadore Rumania, I know that all of them are very nice people. I try to share my poetry a bit more than usual this year, but it is still a fight between me and myself to find the courage.
Your nice words helped me a lot in doing so. I am happy to see you proposing your poetry here and there. It’s always a great read with emotions.
Have a nice week mlle 💌💌
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