By Douglas J. Lanzo
Copyright 2026
Published in Soul Poetry, Prose & Arts Magazine (Vol. 2, Issue 2, Summer 2026)

“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 following the devasting Nebraska fires.

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.