By Douglas J. Lanzo
Why They Answered Their Call
They had no connection other than a heart and a soul, but they answered the call to reduce the grave human toll. Flying thousands of miles across oceans, mountains and plains, they left families behind to enter beleaguered Ukraine. Their hands heal suffering in a hospital in Lviv, treating people wounded in shelled Mariupol and Kyiv, Ten doctors and nurses led by a surgeon with a smile, operate with great love helping those rendered immobile: innocent civilians who hid in bombed shelters and schools, attacked in savagery, shattering all norms and all rules. When asked why they do it as missiles pierce the city’s sky, they say they have no choice — otherwise… all they love will die.
Odessa: Courage Towering over Sea
Mozart, Chopin, rises from dark depths; sand bags, sirens, city in distress… On white tiptoes dancers pirouette — balanced beauty, undeterred by threats. Missiles launching, screaming overhead, the stage empties, everyone has fled — down to shelters beneath opera house, the great chambers quiet as a mouse… Until music fills the golden halls, Verdi’s “Aida” marching wall to wall — with each struck note, fear of war does fade, all assembled gathered center stage… The conductor flourishes his hand mesmerizing all, including band… He commands the anthem to be played, mouthed by young, old - everyone arrayed. Palace-city, overlooking sea, all prepared to defend liberty… Old Odessa, fortress on high hills, forging courage, binding peoples’ will.
Endangered Beauty Below
Snorkeling in coral gardens in places verdant with life in others sedimented, elkhorn bleached with signs of strife; Angelfish iridescent flashing blue and golden hues through horns of yellow staghorn the queen’s fake eye in plain view; Bronze underwater signposts show parrotfish in relief reflecting rainbow colors patrolling lush purple fiefs; In slightly deeper waters a pufferfish gulps some air — taken aback by the sight… of my long and flowing hair; As I pass by a sea fan undulating purpled breaths a shrill whistles stings my ears piercing through clear aqua depths; Summoning me to stay clear of the fragile life below — still many feet from my fins — undulating undertow; Avoiding ever touching any antlered staghorn reef, shuddering at the mere thought… of disturbing its gold leaf; Then revelation hits me, of approaching hurricane snapping coral in its wake though sheltered from wind and rain; Dangers of climate warning, destroying beauty below that our next generation… deserves to cherish and know.
Doug is an award-winning author whose Newbery-nominated, debut novel, The Year of the Bear, won the 2023 Ames Awards for Young Adult Books, has been named a Finalist for the 2023 Hawthorne Prize and was a 2022 Firebird Award winner. He is also the author of a military romance suspense novella entitled I Have Lived that will be released internationally by early 2024. Doug’s poetry has been published in 70 literary journals and anthologies in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, England, Wales, Austria, Mauritius, India, Japan and Australia. He and his award-winning haiku poet twin sons enjoy nature, fishing, tennis, snorkeling and hiking. His Author’s website is at http://www.douglaslanzo.com.
Academy of the Heart And Mind 