Blanket the Ground

the rustling of leaves
the sounding of wind
the feel of rain this day
trees abound
in Fall's lavish array
south winds
blow warm
blow strong
upon branch and bough
the birch
the oak
the dogwood
honor this season's vow
brilliant and pale
hues of orange
red
yellow
green
golden brown
leaves alight
to blanket the ground.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


http://www.weirsonline.com/foliagephotos.htm

evening haiku

such caressing sound
lilting touch of warm south winds
this September night.

Inner Command

inner command
within the destiny of truth
the sun to rise
within the will of beauty
the rose to bloom.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Photograph was taken in Boise, Idaho at the Julia Davis Rose Garden, bythedrop.com 2008.

The Light of Soul

to an artist

Hush the taunts and echoes of voices dark
Move beyond each defined limiting mark
Quell the daunting cries and laments of days long past
You the Creator of a destiny now in beauty cast
A summoning cry, an embracing call, a petition of heart
Line and form your behest of grace shall not depart
The light of soul, of stars, of the moon and the sun
Be they known ever within you as ONE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Image: Gold Light, Blossom Good Child.

Breaking Ground ~ PRAISE Be

The bounty of our land blessed and divine
The labors, the faith, the inner trust sublime
The knowing heart, the toil of hand
PRAISE be nature's loving command.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


From the album: Cropsey Community Farm: Breaking ground by Rockland Farm Alliance



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Harvest of Light...and so we reap

Radiant shimmering light of the full moon
The warming glow of the bright sun at noon
Yesternight, and this moment, this day
The harvest of light in luminous array.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Burst of Light, solarisa.de.

Harvest Moon

Full moon so captivating is your light
A radiant halo dons this night
Shimmering waves of violet, blue and gray
Such be the splendor of your glowing array
Held I in your command of ocean and sea
Cresting be these tides known within me.

Rose Marie Raccioppi



Full Moon, oil on canvas, Karen Ross Walton, http://krwstudio.artspan.com

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Starry Night Over the Rhone

Vincent van Gogh

He knew and was able to see
the wondrous light of stars that be
He felt and was able to convey
with brush what words could not say.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Starry Night Over the Rhone , Oil on canvas, 1888, Vincent van Gogh, 1853-1890.

Credit: Vincent van Gogh, Wikipedia; Acknowledgement: B. Schaefer (LSU)

Astronomy Picture of the Day
2010 September 21

Explanation: How can the majesty of the night sky best be captured in a painting? This was a continual challenge for Vincent van Gogh, who pioneered stirring depictions of star filled skies into several of his works. Pictured above is van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhone, where the French town of Arles is depicted complete with gas lights reflecting off the Rhone river. van Gogh's night sky appears alive with turbulent stellar images contrasting with lofty dark blue hues. Above the river, one can discern the stars of the familiar Big Dipper asterism. Following a line connecting the two Big Dipper stars on the right, the North Star Polaris could be easily found.

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Waters

Waters bathe me in a loving embrace ever sweet
Touched by waters, this body and God's Grace meet
Cooling be the touch, nurturing be its flow
Upon farm lands, bounty to serve, to grow
Upon fields of grass, grain, and flowers in bloom to be
The delight of rain welcomed by all from sea to sea
Rain forests lush, jeweled in emerald green wondrous delight
Hold to the waters ever blessed by the glow of warming light
Shores caressed by waves cresting mighty and high
Behold the crowning rainbow across the lambent sky
Waters sigh and hold a promise ever new
This benevolence of Grace bestowed upon you.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


photo source: Djinn Ga Fairbairn

The Water is Wide - Charlotte Church & Enya

Sandro Russo ~ Scriabin Etude op. 8 no. 12

In Tribute
Sandro Plays

Sensibilities and passion in sounding splendor
To the will of beauty his heart to surrender
Upon piano keys black and white
Heard be the call of the questing light
Sandro plays, artistry in rapture sublime
The music, the music, and known be the divine.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Sandro Russo Concert Pianist
http://www.sandrorussopianist.com/

The Joy of the Italian Way

For music that moves the spirit
For beauty that touches the soul
For drama that echoes life's quest
For art that expresses the Creator's love
The voice of an Italian in song
The hand of an Italian in sculpture
The paintings of an Italian upon ceilings majestic
The word of an Italian in poetry divine
The performance of an Italian upon stage and screen
Ever the savor, ever the delight, ever the passions at play
The food, the wine, the love, the joy of the Italian way.

I sing, I dance, I jump about
It is the Italian in me that I shout about
The mark, the work, the toil, the devotion shown
Towers, bridges, roads, churches, railways, homes
The shoemaker, the bread baker, the fruit and vegetable stand
Ah, my New York City block with memories grand
The family, the kinship, the honor, the strength, the stride
The passion, the pizza, the pasta, the Italian pride
The love of life, the vision, the quest
Count on an Italian to do the best.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
2010 Inaugural Rockland Italian Hall of Fame
Poet of the Year, Orangetown, NY


ROCKLAND’S SEPTEMBER ITALIAN FEAST
All Things Italian

From Thursday, September 16, to Sunday, September 19, 2010 The Sons Of Italy Lodge in Blauvelt, NY will host the Inaugural Italian FESTIVAL/FEAST/CARNIVAL on the Masonic Picnic Grounds on Western Highway in Tappan, New York. At this Feast/Festival/Carnival will be the first public posting of people of Italian Blood who live/have lived in Rockland, NY who have made a significant contribution to Rockland’s greatness. And I, as one, will be named to Rockland’s Italian Hall of Fame.

http://www.sonsofitalyblauvelt.org/

A Palette Upon Leaf

Branch and bough in gentle sway
The touch of wind this September day
The green budding leaves of Spring now past
The blossom of white flowers in memory cast
Dogwood leaves now in splendor anew
With tones and many a joyful hue
Pink, orange, violet and strokes of gold
A palette upon leaf this hour behold.

Rose Marie Raccioppi



Photo: Dogwood Leaf, CAR, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2010.

9/11 - A Remembrance

On this day of September 11, 2010,
I am flying the American Flag in remembrance of 9/11.
Together let us pause to remember the victims,
to grieve with the families and friends of those who died,
and to honor the heroes of that day,
and each day since who have sacrificed to save lives,
protect our freedoms and hold to the promise of our country.

With prayer and blessings.


Where Does The Pain Go

Where does the pain go
When no longer can you take hold
When the fires devour hope
When the moment claims life

Where does the pain go
When man annihilates man
When terror rules reason and heart
When the unspeakable defies God’s name

Where does the pain go
When the innocence is lost
When suspicion and fear hover
When trust is betrayed

Where does the pain go
When a life is saved
When love holds a memory
When grace touches the tearful heart

Where does the pain go
When spirit and soul awaken faith
When destiny abides in God’s light
When the silence offers guidance

Where does the pain go
When determination and resolve assemble
When purpose and plan are set forth
When in the name of God, life, beauty and love are called.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Vocal by Marci Elyn Schein
Music by Michael V. Ficocelli
click to hear

Be It Woven

Threads of anger and dismay
Threads of love spun along the way
Color and hue of many a textured thought
Nubs and frails that the day has brought
Silken threads of sweet spirit sublime
With strength of heart in each threaded line
And what is this that you perceive
To bring to this cloth you do weave
The warp and weft of faith be chosen
The cloth of benevolence be it woven.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


image credit: http://www.threaddesigns4u.com/



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What Color Be This Moment

What color be this moment
Is it the red of passion that sparks with flame and desire
It it the orange of a setting sun that holds to the warming fire
Is it the yellow that dances with knowing joy and delight
Is it the green that lives the blessings of God's light
It is the blue so vast and clear of a day time sky
Is it the indigo of the night and stars on high
Is it the violet of Spirit's silent and resounding call
It is each, each and ALL.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Phoenix Rising

Wings to soar to heights new
The majesty of Spirit's flight on to you
Phoenix, its rising power present and real
From ashes no TRUTH concealed.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

...this day to my son...

Phoenix Rising, Watercolor, Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2001.

PRESENCE

stillness pulsing
quietude sounding
I in the embrace of PRESENCE.

I hear the silence
the harmonies, the music
of the sun by day
of the stars and moon by night
I hear the melodies of the firmament in vistas near and far
the rustle of leaves, 'tis the dance of winds
'tis the call of flowing waters
the resounding cresting waves
the thunderous rains echoing from afar
the songbirds heralding the dawn
I hear the silence
the wisdom of the ancients
ALL is sound and ALL is silence
the PRESENCE be known
the rapture be felt
the WORD proclaims its TRUTH.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Quietude, Watercolor, Skyscapes, Rose Marie Raccioppi, http://www.apogeeart.com

FREE

Free be these callings of heart
These seasons of change
Free be these cresting waves that ebb and flow
This spirit that soars beyond time
Free to move, to dance, to be this music of soul
This grace that lives TRUTH
Free and I BE
Birth Eternal.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

In Dedication
to
Bignone Maurizio
.¸¸♥ ¸¸.
for this gift of heart
this gift of music

I AM

I breathe and so the ebb and flow of tides
I sing and so the melodies of the wind
I awaken and so the rising of the sun
I love and so the waxing of the moon
I AM and so the light of the stars.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


image: http://www.squidoo.com/solar_system

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Who But God

Who but yourself and God really know
What is in heart despite what you show
Who but God is ever a listening ear
Providing the love to banish each fear
Who but God gives to Kings and Queens and onto you
The selfsame sky be it cloudy, stormed or blue
Who but God in a knowing light and love
Creates all earth's offerings and the heavens above
Who but God in my last moments of call
Knows this heart, this soul, ever questing love among all.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

"No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit,
and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit"
(1 Corinthians 2:11, NLT)


Saint Luke, Oil on canvas, about 1615, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri), Italian Baroque painter, 1591-1666, Credits: J. Paul Getty Museum.