Monday, October 30, 2017

Thyself Claimed



Pay heed to your call of soul, of heart
To emotions, sensations, from truth shan't depart
Restlessness, the beckoning for attention, a vision clear
Confront the drama, shackles that bind and hold to fear
Haunts of judgment be they named, be they willfully tamed
In TRUTH know thyself, thyself, thyself claimed.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Founder/Director
APOGEE Paradigm™




Sunday, October 29, 2017

In Honor... In Tribute...Vietnam Veterans of America...

Vietnam Veterans of America
Chapter 333 Rockland County 
New York

30th Anniversary Dinner
October 28, 2017

In Honor of Jerry Donnellan



"Rockland Veterans Agency Director Jerry Donnellan has announced his retirement — well, to the extent that Jerry can retire. We fully expect Donnellan to continue advocating for his fellow veterans, and welcome his rabblerousing on their behalf.
Donnellan, who has served at the agency for three decades, leads by example. He tells of his own catastrophic injury — riddled with shrapnel, a leg blown off in battle during the Vietnam War. He frequently discusses personal and ongoing struggles with post-traumatic stress. He has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs but has called out its shortcomings loudly and repeatedly. 
Donnellan, 70, has done much to make sure local vets are remembered and properly honored. He worked for years to get notification from the VA when a servicemember returned home. He helped establish FAVOR, which stands for Find and Assist Vets of Rockland, which provides discounts from local merchants. He helped establish the county's Public Service Medal to honor those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, or as part of the global war on terrorism. These and similar efforts, though, were also about connecting with local veterans who may be wary of government. That way, his office could provide support and advocacy now or whenever it was needed.”  

These Words Delivered in Loving Tribute


click for larger view

Thursday, October 26, 2017

The P O E T



An impression, and words may seem pale in offering a description. The need to make what is felt, what is seen, what is heard, what is experienced, calls to the POET… and beckons the Muse… to utter the sounds of …

Passion
Omnipresence
Eternity
Truth … of beauty of BEING.

"The poet is the sayer, the namer, and represents beauty. He is a sovereign, and stands on the centre. For the world is not painted, or adorned, but is from the beginning beautiful; and God has not made some beautiful things, but Beauty is the creator of the universe. Therefore the poet is not any permissive potentate, but is emperor in his own right.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Curtain Call



The Theatre of our lives
Be it a performance real
Quest and pursuit ne’er conceal
Be it of vision, and a knowing wise
Love, faith, truth, beyond demise
Be it staged, spontaneous, ever in revelation
Each breath of BEING in the NOW celebration
Imagine, envision, dream the dream awake
Yours is a role not another can take
Curtain Call, Bravo, Bravo be it heard
Within your heart pulsing be passion’s word
The prize, the trophy, to bear your name
You in fulfillment of the players game
You in fulfillment of the players game.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York