By Douglas J. Lanzo Flashing ambered orange, her eyespierce tall savannah grass,spotting shadows of horned beastsgrazing contentedly under mattedshade of acacia trees,as she tracks on padded pawsthrough yellow-seeded grass.Downwind of the herdthe undetected hunterflexes her spine and accelerates, pulsing with each clawed bound gripping sun-scorched earthas she powers quickening strides,turning in tight arc toward the … Continue reading A Huntress Who Locks in
Inspiration Beamed from Mars
By Douglas J. Lanzo Dedicated to those at NASA who introduced the world to the most beloved rover of all time Opportunity Rover —engineered for Mars — redefined our red neighboron our path to the stars.With its twin rover Spirittested by its side,NASA captured the windowfor its magical ride:Thrust by powerful rockets — six months … Continue reading Inspiration Beamed from Mars
One passing wasp
By Douglas J. Lanzo Based on the account of a close friend He stood atop a hillhe had been climbingwhen he felt chest painand panted just to breathe,staring blankly ahead,unsure of whether these were his last moments…A rabbit hopped closer —gazing up at his eyes,as its nose crinkled,sensing something was wrong.Time seemed to slow and … Continue reading One passing wasp
Uncommon Valor and Song from Heaven, Piercing Hell
By Douglas J. Lanzo Uncommon Valor “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Admiral Chester Nimitz of our men who fought on Iwo Jima Standing before the flagraised atop Mount Suribachia marine did ask mewhether I had any questions:I nodded, and heard sounds, saw scenes,of men and carnage, primal screams,of death and valor, heroes downed,marines cut … Continue reading Uncommon Valor and Song from Heaven, Piercing Hell
Shared Joy On Ice and Other Poems
By Douglas J. Lanzo Shared Joy on Cold Ice It came in a flash, streaked across the ice, to his slapstick shot, eluding the vice… of the outstretched glove, extended in air, of the goalie sprawled — beaten, fair and square. Flaring red on glass, as the horn did sound, my son strobe-lighted, with great … Continue reading Shared Joy On Ice and Other Poems
Why They Answered Their Call and Other Poems
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 … Continue reading Why They Answered Their Call and Other Poems
Two Leaders, One Shared Cause and Other Poems
By Douglas J. Lanzo Two Leaders, One Shared Cause Dedicated to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. Two leaders of their peoples, yearning to be free, shattering cruel vestiges, of tragic slavery. The first, son of a pastor, thundering Sundays, the second, raised in Egypt, kin to Hebrew slaves. Both spoke out for true … Continue reading Two Leaders, One Shared Cause and Other Poems
King of Clay and Other Poems
By Douglas J. Lanzo King of Clay Sounding his pain… playing each match like his last defying all that say his best days are in the past… Coated in dirt… thumping off layers of clay caked on his tennis shoes, from sprinted shots on display. Dripping in sweat… hyper-rotating the ball to maximize its spin … Continue reading King of Clay and Other Poems
Lands of the Western Ghats – Reservoir of Life and Other Poems
By Douglas J. Lanzo Lands of the Western Ghats – Reservoir of Life Rain-soaked sanctuary of monsoon mountains bursting with exotic life tucked in Himalayan foothills many miles from urban strife; Rich with songs of sunbird coloring morning mists yellow, crimson and blue through rhododendron flowers perched on leaves dipped in dew; Ringing with primate … Continue reading Lands of the Western Ghats – Reservoir of Life and Other Poems
Uplifting a City with Each Stroke and Other Poems
By Douglas J. Lanzo Uplifting a City with Each Stroke Dedicated to Arshay Cooper, Preston Grandberry, Malcolm Hawkins, Ray “Pookie” Hawkins and Alvin Ross, members of the Manley High School Rowing Team and Chicago Sprint Silver Medalists Plying through the river, stroke by stroke they row, sleek above the surface, avoiding undertow; Four men reunited, … Continue reading Uplifting a City with Each Stroke and Other Poems
Academy of the Heart And Mind 