By Douglas J. Lanzo

Unfathomable Sacrifice Remembered

There is no bridge or battlement
that they refused to cross,
no high sea cliffs or mines ashore
that deterred their ships storm-tossed;

They braved hellfire withering —
RPGs crackling through the air —
sky scorched with flames and shrapnel-pierced,
flashing bright outside their lairs.

They did not break, holding their lines,
advancing through the night,
giving all they had, and then some more,
some did not see the light.

Today we pause to honor them
laying wreaths upon their graves,
unfathomably pondering,
“How could they be so brave?”
Our warriors of freedom
as timeless as the waves…
may we honor them forever
for the country that they saved.

Acts Shining Bright Through Flames

“Every rancher that we have called to send them hay has asked us to send it to their neighbor first.” Volunteer aid organizer Sarah Cover.

In sandhills graced by prairie grass,
where herds of cattle graze,
coyotes yelped and mule deer fled
the fast-incoming haze.

As ranchers raced to drive cattle
to blowouts filled with sand,
raging winds, of hurricane strength,
fanned wildfires through their lands.

Apocalyptic walls of flame
scorched ranches, charring fields —
blinding the way of those battling
a blaze that would not yield.

Neighbors gathered from miles apart —
some firefighter trained —
to save the homes of ranchers there
from red engulfing flame…

Risking all, they preserved the home
of Mike Winz and his wife,
though eleven thousand acres
burned, ravaged by its strife.

A miracle of grace then swept
across their scorched black ranch,
devoid of grasses needed for
wounds of cattle to stanch.

Large tractor trailers drove all night
to bring them bales of hay
to feed their starving cattle herds
without expecting pay.

In fact the Winzes did not know
the names of most who came
who acted out of empathy,
and not for thanks or fame.

The hearts of ranchers impacted
by their state’s largest fire,
shone bright as ranchers transferred aid
to those whose plights were dire.

Lessons Gleaned from a Cat

Watching our rescue cat
fly down the stairs,
oblivious to age —
defying 60 years…
leaping up bar stools
sampling flowers in vase —
then fleeing tall counters
as we all give chase,
it strikes me the meaning
from fur-tastic feats
may be more than the fun
in defending our seats.

Perhaps he is showing
that we should not fear
getting lost in the moment —
despite wear and tear,
cherishing every day
for all of our lives —
with a spring to each step…
refreshed and revived!

Soul Burning for God Even through Flames

“The best in my life is the result of the worst. And I only got there through the flames. What a gift.” John O’Leary, inspirational speaker, bestselling author and podcast host

The love of those around him
the hand of God he clasped,
unfathomable kindness —
beyond a young kid’s grasp;

When doctors said his chances
were less than one percent,
he willed to live on earth
with faith in whom God sent.

One hundred percent covered
with burns, most third degree —
he told his loving mother
he wanted still to be.

From the nurse that insisted
that he would walk again,
to Hall of Fame broadcaster
assuring he would mend,
to the love of his parents
and siblings gathered near —
telling him to walk with God
in faith and never fear,
he felt God’s mighty healing
in lungs and grafted skin,
restoring his flesh to health,
his soul refreshed within.

A miracle of healing
of body and the soul,
he shares God’s inspiration
to millions in his role.

At first when asked the question
whether he would change the past,
he said he would stop the fire
that scorched him in one blast.

Years later in reflection,
he said he wouldn’t change a thing,
recalling all the blessings,
that from tragedy did spring…

Quieting His Soul

“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’” Matthew 26:38-39 (NIV)

Overwhelmed with sorrow
in agony He prayed
that the cup before Him,
if in God’s will, be stayed.

Knowing more the answer
than how it was conveyed,
reading words of David
a Psalm on my heart weighed:

The quieting of soul
that David felt — at peace —
I pictured God saying,
“My Son, in Me, release
the burdens that You bear —
the pain of Calvary —
that I may raise You up
and crown You in glory.”

“Be still, Your anxious thoughts,
dwell on My love for You,
My precious, Holy Son,
whose spirit I renew.”

“Find quiet in My love,
and Holy Trinity,
then rise to face the hour
in dark Gethsemane.”

Humanity that Struck Me

It is easy in Paris
to get lost in majesty,
passing statutes of its heroes
gilding paths of destiny:
kings, saints and great commanders —
men of peace, and men of war,
women felled in martyrdom —
patron saints, whom France adores.

Perhaps the person most depicted
of all those featured in its art,
is Grand Army Emperor,
Napoleon Bonaparte.

Rising from second lieutenant
to command Imperial armies,
he reshaped most of Europe
through strings of crushing victories.

Yet more than battle murals
and bronze sculpted pageantry,
I was struck by the accounts
of his plain humanity:

carrying Empress Josephine
after her fainting, shocked by news —
that he would divorce and remarry
that a male heir might fill his shoes;

accounts of how they “dined”
in silence without touching food —
knowing they would be divorced —
their hearts broken in forlorn mood;

accounts of their weeping with joy
reuniting in gardens green,
at her palace at Malmaison,
with endearing love and eyes serene
until their last visit there —
in March of 1814 —
before Napoleon’s exile
and the death of Josephine,
which he grieved for bitterly,
clutching violets from her garden —
still his empress and his queen —
until his dying breath,
crying out for Josephine.

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Doug is an award-winning author and poet whose novel The Year of the Bear and novella I Have Lived were each named books of the year in 2023 and 2024 and whose inspirational poetry has won numerous contests and been published in 79 literary journals, 9 anthologies and 2 books around the globe.