Tributes

By Douglas J. LanzoCopyright 2023 First published in Founder’s Favorites, Issue 23 (July 2023) Dedicated to a great man whose songs will never leave us Though Alzheimer’s did ravishhis cognition and memories,it robbed not Tony Bennettof his most precious revelries: the music from within him,the sounds of laughter in the air,the joy in each soulful note,brimming […]

By Douglas J. LanzoCopyright 2022 First published in Founder’s Favorites, Issue 21 (December 2022) Dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth II A life of loving servicemourned by millions worldwidefull of dignity and graceher spirit by our side. She welcomed prime ministersuntil her final breathher royal duties honoredeach day before her death. She awed us with composurea […]

By Douglas J. LanzoCopyright 2021 First published in The Drabble, October 15, 2021 Dedicated to 9-11 fallen firefighter hero, Keith Roma Found on Christmas Eve, 2001,alongside nine evacueeshe was striving to save,the 344th firefighter,the sole member of New York’s Fire Patrollost on 9-11…after rescuing over 200 people,including a barefoot womanhe carried over tower lobby glassfrom the […]

By Douglas J. LanzoCopyright 2020 First published in Academy of the Heart and Mind, April 26, 2021 Dedicated to Scottish Biking Legend, Graeme Obree, overcoming external obstacles and internal demons A Scotsman did roar round the trackhead forward, never looking back,unveiling form dubbed “Superman,”invincible, ‘til unfair ban; World records he did shatter cold,on home-made bike, whose […]

By Douglas J. LanzoCopyright 2020 First published in Academy of the Heart and Mind, April 26, 2021 During this most trying time of the yearwith death at our doorstep, its breath in our ear,with thousands of countrymen falling each dayfrom invisible contagion that does ruthlessly slay,felling visions and dreams before they are formed,leaving would-be acts of […]

By Douglas J. LanzoCopyright 2019 First published in the Spring 2020 Edition of the Pennsylvania Literary Journal Radiating tennis brilliance, flashing genius everywhere,He commands center court, invoking unrivalled fanfare,Unleashing serves of fury spinning wide or up the “T”,He crushes seconds without mercy at one-hundred forty; Employing guile and deception to mask his clever thoughts,He forces rivals to […]