biography – Prolific Pulse Blog

One Petal at a Time is A Journey of Healing and Resilience

In “One Petal at a Time,” Joni Caggiano invites readers into the raw and poignant landscape of her journey as an Adult Child of Alcoholics. Joni’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to find hope amidst adversity.

Growing up in an environment marked by mental and physical abuse, Joni learned early on to navigate the treacherous waters of uncertainty. In a world filled with constant threats, she resorted to humor as a means of survival, using laughter to protect herself from the impending darkness.

However, behind the mask of laughter is a soul overwhelmed by fear and lack of confidence. Joni is caught in a cycle of dogmatism and low self-esteem, making it difficult for her to find her place in a world that constantly undermines her.

As she grapples with the demons of her past, Joni learns to embrace vulnerability as a path to healing. Through introspection and self-discovery, she untangles the knots of her trauma, one petal at a time.

“One Petal at a Time” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-love. Joni’s journey in “One Petal at a Time” serves as a reminder to readers that healing is possible, even in the darkest of times, and that every step forward is a victory worth celebrating.

Endorsed by Claudia Black, PhD – Pioneer in the study of dysfunctional family systems shaped by alcohol and addictive disorders.

Expressed with such raw emotion and honesty, this is an incredibly powerful book for any reader, but if you grew up in a family impacted by substance addiction, you will identify with the pain in childhood and the joy that comes with the author’s healing and recovery.

Claudia Black Ph.D., author of It Will Never Happen to Me, and Unspoken Legacy

Joni Karen Caggiano is an internationally published author, poet, and photographer. She was a 2022 Pushcart Nominee for her poem, “Old News is Not Old News,” published by The Short of It Publishing. She was privileged to write the Foreword for the Best Seller, I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark, by the five-time Amazon Best-Selling Author Michelle Ayon Navajas. On SpillWords Press NYC, Joni won Publication of the Month in November 2022 and Co-Winner of Socialite of the Year 2023 and 2024. Joni was a Co-Author of both #1 Amazon Bestselling books, Hidden In Childhood and Wounds I Healed. She is also in seven additional Poetry Anthologies. Her first book of poetry, Joni, is also proud to be included in the poetry anthology, A Safe and Brave Space, published by Garden of Neuro Publishing (2024). She is currently a writer for Hotel Masticadores. Joni formerly contributed four combined pieces a month for one year to MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. Joni is a retired nurse, ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) survivor, and environmental advocate.

Follow Joni:

the-inner-child.com

Twitter: @theinnerchild1

Instagram: @jonicaggiano

Purchase your copy: Amazon

Gwendolyn Brooks, Consultant in Poetry, 1985-86 Image ID: LC-USZ62-107993
Prints and Photographs Online Catalog

1917-2000

When I took a poetry class last year, we studied one of Gwendolyn Brooks poems: We Real Cool. This was followed by a Meetup when she was the featured Pulitzer Prize winning poet. She was also the first black woman to be named Poet Laureate of the United States. Brooks wrote over 20 books of poetry as well as other works, including a novel.

For Dead Poets Live I would like to devote the prompt focus on the works of Brooks.

Here is a link to tell you more about Brooks. Gwendolyn Brooks Biography

Following are some of my favorite Brooks poems:

The Bean Eaters

We Real Cool

The Lovers of the Poor

To see what Gwendolyn Brooks wrote in The Bean Eaters, I would suggest going to the link, due to respect of the copyright. Following is my poem with respect to this poem:

Beans and Rice

Dressing the table simply with each day’s dishes.
No need for pompous ways or grandiose wishes.
They rather like the mix of flora and fauna,
cracking adding to the character of their plates.

Living the life of goodness, much of the time.
Each day lived to the best it can be,
No fuss or gussy ways,
Simple appreciating what they have,
Regarding it as such.

As they recall,
Remembering the efforts and gloss of the sweat beaded days.
As they taste the goodness in their humble givings of beans and rice,
They look about their rental home.
doilies, fringes, rick racks and braided toys
a crank engine, hair saver, and celluloid doll
and this is the life of the tin roofed rich.