Reflections

Reflections is a collection of poetry and musings by Victor P. Rizzo.

In this you will find love, pathos, life, death, danger, safety, humor, and more. A cross section of experiences and perceptions from a life spanning over ninety years.

Born in 1918, Vic grew up in Brooklyn, NY during the Great Depression. He joined the New York National Guard 14th Brooklyn Militia at sixteen (lying about his age). When World War II came, he was inducted into federal service and spent the next twenty years in the army.

In looking through his papers I came across many documents that gave insight into his past. Things he never discussed with us. Things our parents keep close to the vest.

In later years, he became heavily involve in the local poetry society and editing the newsletter for a community college in New Jersey. He was also an avid golfer and volunteer.

He and my mother, Ernestine, met in Vienna. He was on assignment, flying mucky-mucks and displaced scientists in and out of Soviet territory. She was interpreting for the administration. They were together for over fifty years, and she influenced much of his material. When she passed away his poems became more reflective. "Legacy" was his final piece.

I suppose his writings inspired me to write; actually challenged me to write. I promised to assemble the work into something that could carry on. This is that effort.

-- Dennis Rizzo, Orillia Ontario (Canada)