River Paw Press is delighted to announce the publication of One Thousand Origami Paper Cranes Fly Away, a poetry chapbook by Martin Willitts Jr., winner of the Silent River Poetry Prize (2025).
One Thousand Origami Paper Cranes Fly Away is a profound poetic tribute to the victims and survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Drawing on historical memory as well as lived experience, the collection bears witness to the enduring human cost of war and its aftermath.
In his foreword, Martin Willitts Jr., who served as a medic during the Vietnam War, writes:
“Because I have seen first-hand war, how the innocent is caught in the middle, having carried the wounded and had to leave the dying behind, and experiencing my feet being burnt, I know the effects of war. I tried to write this collection from the Japanese viewpoint or reference points.”
River Paw Press offers a special pre-sale discount on this award-winning chapbook. We invite readers, educators, libraries, and reviewers to reserve a copy of One Thousand Origami Paper Cranes Fly Away. This is a timely and resonant poetry collection—one you will not want to miss.
To learn more, and to purchase your copy of One Thousand Origami Paper Cranes Fly Away, CLICK HERE
Call for Submissions for the 2026 Silent River Poetry Prize is now open. For details on how to submit your work, please visit the River Paw Press submissions page, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming announcements and opportunities.
