By Douglas J. Lanzo
First published in Wild Violet as a Featured Work on January 17, 2021
Approaching comet
speeds with icy gas exhaust
as it nears our Sun
in its faithful pilgrimage
tithing cosmic gas and dust.
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Copyright 2021
First published in Bamboo Hut in its Issue 2, Spring 2021
temple tea house
pours scent of sakura
through gurgling gardens
flowered by melting snowfall
of cherry blossom crystals
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Copyright 2021
First published in Bamboo Hut in its Issue 2, Spring 2021
groomed into ripples
of meditating waters
manicured rock waves
expunge stress from frothy sea
calmed in my Zen garden
Lighting up Life’s Sky
By Douglas J. Lanzo
First published in Time of Singing in Winter 2020-2021 issue
Pollux and Castor
Gemini twin stars of spring
brighten my night sky
commemorating the birth
of my precious lights — twin boys
Tablets from On High
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Ariel Chart on October 21, 2021
sacred tepui
rise in lofty sandstone mist
shrouding ages past
band by band of tablets
inscribed by ancient hands
Soulful Journey
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Ariel Chart on October 20, 2021
soft light of lantern
guides gentle Lijiang raft
through morning mist
to tranquil fishing waters
stirred by my restless soul
Untitled Tanka
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Front Porch Review on January 12, 2022
Shannon River dawn
sparkles orange and lemon hues
of meadow butterflies
awakening lush marshlands
with delicious scents of spring
Guiding Lantern
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 5 in December, 2021
a lantern
gently guides our raft
through morning mist
lifting with your bridal veil
into a world of bliss
Mount Fuji’s Waters
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 5 in December, 2021
glistening waters
tinged pink with cherry blossoms
reflect the majesty
of Fuji’s snow-capped crown
reigning serenity
Butterfly Pair
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 5 in December, 2021
butterfly pair
cling for tender moments
before parting ways
ephemeral as your love
fading with the close of spring
Soaring the City
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 1 in March, 2022
city falcon
rides vents of thermal heat
soaring skyscrapers
as lofty as the heights
of my uplifted soul
Sakura Snowmelt
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 1 in March, 2022
sakura snow
scent of cherry blossoms
melts into the wind
leaving fluttered beauty
strewn across its wake
Moonlight Gently Veiled
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 1 in March, 2022
moonlit walk
through silver-tinseled moss
hung from Southern oaks
renewing wedding vows
under treetops gently veiled
The Silver Lining
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 1 in March, 2022
searching for
the silver lining
in pale moonlight
I spot a pair of mayflies
enraptured in true bliss
Sunset Radiance
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Issue 1 in March, 2022
still sunset
stretches the silhouettes
of silent herons
as the light of your soul
radiates warmth within
Heart-Piercing Flower
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Front Porch Review, Issue 14, January 2023
lone wildflower
pierces the snowline
against all odds
until plucked by an orphan
its beauty drawing smiles
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Themed Issue: Things that make you smile (April 2023)
rocktrumpet
a splash of wild red
heralds dawn with dew
as we pause by misted tree
refreshing long-billed sunbirds
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive, Themed Issue: Things that make you smile (April 2023)
Fuji’s mountain mist
bends over bonsai sculptures
hued glistening green
gifting morning dew
before vanishing with dawn
Tilting at Windmills
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Front Porch Review, Volume 15, April 2023
tilting at windmills
under puzzled gaze of stars
a young boy turns
wrestling his wildest dreams
lit by trails of stardust
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in cattails, April 2023
water lilies
pinpricks of soft colors
ripple my paint brush
flowing across white canvas
shades of an impressionist
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive Journal, Themed Issue: The Plight of Refugees (July, 2023)
city’s last songbird
questions its loneliness
in the fog of war
between claps of thunder
civilians streaking away
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive Journal, Themed Issue: The Plight of Refugees (July, 2023)
the wail of a loon
pierces through the moonlit mist
with unrequited calls
refugee camps haunted
by loved ones claimed by war
By Douglas J. Lanzo
Published in Take 5ive Journal, Themed Issue: The Plight of Refugees (July, 2023)
fading with sunset
a line of refugees
blends into next day
their humanity ignored
until the morning light
Spring Snowmelt
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Ariel Chart (August 18, 2023)
spring snowmelt
feeds clear mountain stream
invigorated
by the warmth of her smile
bubbling with kind spirit
Brief Beauty of Life
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Ariel Chart (August 18, 2023)
a bluewing
flutters in the autumn breeze
swept out with the leaves
so little time to share
life’s beauty while soaring
Moored Together
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Ariel Chart (August 18, 2023)
two seahorses
brace the storm surge tide
tails tethered
a testament to love
steadfast through life’s tests
Transforming Nymph
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Ariel Chart (August 18, 2023)
glint of morning
in the eyes of my daughter
as a nymph transforms
one thousand golden beads
upon a dragonfly’s wings
Reuniting Currents
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Ariel Chart (August 18, 2023)
united once again
dad’s and mom’s ashes release
into mountain stream
as two circling hawks approach
drawn by unknown currents
Enshrouding Mist
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Ariel Chart (August 18, 2023)
morning mist
shrouding mountain crater
in dawn-tinged haze
its flow of lava hidden
until burnished by the sun
Felled Woodlands
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2023
Published in Breathe Bold Journal (October 22, 2023)
a bald eagle soars
passing by felled woodlands
without rest
while a refugee flees
from everything she once knew
Moss Phlox in Soft Mist
By Douglas J. Lanzo
©2024
Published in Front Porch Review (January 2024 Issue)
Moss phlox
the softness of her face
dewed by misting rain
blanketing the forest
with shades of light pink laughter