alleys close renew
moments jump
parts of memories
time moves like a slug
warm flesh holding
mine, a seagull rises
red hair escapes
tightly fitted bun
sea salt sings prelude
connecting dots with
tiny freckles, laughing
placing my pale hand
on your heart it plays
percussion, a drum circle
completing the orbit
flowers flow like white
sand to weave a path
new moments forever
bloom within our hearts
-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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Chewers & Masticadores // Editora: Nolcha Fox 
Joni’s poem is the vivid and beautiful depiction of the sands of time. Each individual allotted a glass and a duration to live a life as best as they can. Fleeting moments capturing emotions and transforming them into memories that will last forever. It’s not the materialistic gain but the spiritual growth that will lead us to life’s greatest treasures.
Congratulations Joni!
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Thank you, Terveen, for your kind words and always so on the mark. That is precisely the meaning of this piece told with few words. Time is a gift and precious. Although sometimes difficult, we should always find gratitude for what we have and the love and good experiences life brings us. Have a blessed day, and thank you, Terveen. 🌹 Hugs, Joni
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Time alive, every waking breath, is forever creating opportunities for new experiences. Welcome back Joni. We’ve missed you. ❤️❤️
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You are so right my dear friend Nigel. Thank you for your sweet words, Nigel. It is always a gift to be on MasticadoresIndia. I am taking some time off in May and June but will still have a story in May. Also, I will have a story on the 29th of April, “Leaving the big four!” This one promises to not only be true but to show what drastic changes can do to a little girl. Blessings Nigel and have a wonderful day. Big hug, Joni
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Looking forward to it Joni. You will be missed. But I’m sure the break is well deserved. Hope you’re feeling much much better.
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Thank you my friend. I am sure you and all the other great writers Terveen has will keep the fires stoked and the entertainment incoming. Blessings and thank you Nigel!
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Congratulations on another beautiful poem Joni. Enjoy your well deserved break! 💞
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Thank you, Cindy. I appreciate your reading and your kind words Cindy. Yes, we have been busy, it would be nice if the house would just sell. It would be a blessing, but you have to keep everything perfect in case of a showing, etc. We have pretty much decided on the mountains of VA. I hope that you are looking forward to your summer and hopefully lots of time with your beautiful family. Big hugs, Joni
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Love the red hair, so vivid and vibrant. Coincidentally, I saw a girl with bright pink colored hair the other day. It is wonderful that people express themselves in their own ways.
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Hello, my friend. So lovely to see you here. I am always honored when you read my work. Yes, it is a new generation of ways to express oneself. Tattoos, hair, piercings, and various hair colors have become a way that many have used to decorate and share their creativity. I always try and remember if I start to be judgemental about what I consider extreme. The days when I was young, I dressed differently, I wore my waist-length hair in a turban, long skirts, and large belts that were sewn with felt and laced with shoe strings. As you can imagine, I didn’t have many friends as everyone thought I was extremely strange, but that was me, I had no desire to “fit in.” By the way, I, too, have always loved bright red hair on fair-skinned women, I think it is so beautiful. By the way, you have such a kind heart, I hope all those in your life know how special you are. Blessings, Joni
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Haha, I wish I met you in those days–turban, skirts, belts, shoe strings–what a beautiful image. I never dare to dress differently from what is approved by the conservative communities that follow me everywhere. However I would always cheer for brave people who dare to defy the system.
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Perhaps we would have been friends, I like to thank that, it would have certainly been a blessing to me, I am sure. I saw a fashion ad today, and turbans tied very tight with a knot on the low left side is actually popular this summer for those that dress with very expensive taste, meaning outside my pocket book. Have a blessed weekend, big hugs, Joni
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You have all the natural beauty with you and no need for expensive turbans. Hugs and blessings for you.
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Time is a very strange thing. Sometimes “it moves like a slug”, especially in those moments when you wanted it to pass quickly. However in other times, it moves away so fast…
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So true, my friend. Time can be a friend or sometimes feel like the enemy, challenging us to be patient. Thank you again for reading. Hope your weekend is filled with joy. 🌹
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John, how very kind of you. I always feel so grateful for having found Deborah through your site. She should be writing poetry for “The Daily Bread.” Because of your informative and interesting posts, we never travel anywhere with an old train station without visiting the museum. Have you ever watched the series “Hell on Wheels,” loosely based on the true story of the first Transcontinental Railroad across the US? A great show! Have a blessed weekend, my friend, and thank you again for reading and the kind reblog. Great big hugs, Joni
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You are very welcome. I am having to read about you visiting the sites. I have not seen the series, but I guess I will have to see it. You have an amazing weekend.
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We saw the series on NetFlix it was extremely interesting and there was so much corruption that went on and the workers as you can imagine were not paid well and were treated horribly. You have a great weekend too John, big hugs 🌹 Joni
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You have an amazing weekend.
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A treat to read Joni! This one is a wonderful weaving of imagery, hope, and love. 💞
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Thank you, Michele, for reading, and I am glad you enjoyed it. I am pleased you enjoyed the imagery, as the piece is about time and what passes in front of us, how much happens in seconds, and sometimes how time drags, but there is always hope and love. Thinking of hope, I like to think you are still dancing my friend. Sending you big hugs and hope your weekend is filled with love.
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My pleasure, Joni! A beautiful message. Thank you. 💗 I am still dancing, yes. 🥰 Thank you for remembering! Hugs and love to you!
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Oh I am so glad to hear that, you are such a beautiful dancer,💃 and gorgeous to boot. So graceful. Big hugs 🤗
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Me too, Joni. It brings me great joy. Thank you for being so gracious and kind to me. 💗🤗
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The feeling is entirely true, and mutual. 🌻🌺🌹
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Congratulations on your publication of this beautiful poem, that captures so well in just a few words the memories that we hold in our minds, like beloved book we can revisit…and we do. Each word is a moment, a time we lived and shared, each short phrase a
“flowers flow like white
sand to weave a path”
maybe an entire day or night you will never forget. I loved your style in this, just like our real memories, don’t think in sentences…they think in imagery and you have provided that for all of us to imagine our own. Beautiful! Beautiful my sweet friend ❤️
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Dear Karima, I have been thinking about you this week. What a lovely comment. Thank you so kindly for each beautifully expressed word. Karima, you are so right about our minds; we don’t think in full sentences. Random thoughts drift by, just like the beauty we often don’t take the time to see. It is amazing how we learn to appreciate the subtle life around us when we slow things down. Nature is a blessing to me, and I know it is also to you. I saw a place in VA for sale yesterday with a big horse barn, and I thought about you riding along the coast in the moonlight. How wonderful that would be; I never had that experience, just in the daytime, but so fun. Talk with you real soon, sending big hugs and love, Joni
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Ohh I miss you too..Loved you thought of me when you saw that barn..Night rides are some of my most enduring memories, Yes Nature surrounds me, comforts me, speaks to me too. We have that very much in common. Looking forward to hearing from you, when you get some free time. Much love and Congratulations again on your poetic reflections. Hugs n hugs, Karima
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I did indeed, I couldn’t help it. I was thinking how fun it would be to do that again. I wouldn’t be able to because it would hurt my neck but I would still love to have a horse, such a smart and affectionate creature. It is a blessing to own a horse but I think it would really be expensive. Sending you great big hugs, love Joni
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So beautiful, Joni!
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Thank you so much, Dawn. I so appreciate your kind words. I hope that you are having an amazing weekend and an inspired one as well. Sending hugs and gratitude. 🌹
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You never failed to amaze me Joni at how you infused hard hitting life’s reality into beautiful piece of poem making it more relatable rather than imposing and “preachy”…well done my friend..❤️
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Thank you, Mich, high praise, and I do really appreciate it. Thank you for reading me here at MasticadoresInida. I am so glad you enjoyed it and for your very sweet comment. Many blessings to you Mich! 🌹
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Every moment is a gift! Well done, Joni!
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