a bald eagle soars

passing by felled woodlands

without rest

while a refugee flees

from everything she once knew 

-Douglas J. Lanzo 

Doug is an American poet and novelist whose Newbery-nominated, debut novel, The Year of the Bear, won the 2023 Ames Awards for Young Adult Books, was named a Finalist for the 2023 Hawthorne Prize and was a 2022 Firebird Award winner.  He is also the author of I Have Lived, a romance suspense novella that will be released internationally in early 2024.  Over 360 of Doug’s poems have been published in 71 literary journals and anthologies around the world.  He and his award-winning haiku poet twin sons enjoy nature, fishing, tennis and hiking.  His Author’s website is at www.douglaslanzo.com. 

raindrops on the river

a little girl’s spin

in her polka dot dress

-Suzanne Leaf-Brock