Awakened

day's awakening
eternal sunrise of soul
rejoice in glory.

gone the echoes and laments of days past

anew BE this mind, this heart, within soul cast
a child of the universe and Creation's grace
ever evolving within the depths of soul's place
confront and resolve be the calling command
within this faith held is libation's hand
nature's knowing and guidance true
life in new splendor brought on to you
shackled no more for I am free as the wind
silent no more for I am the thunderous storm
despairing no more for I am the dawning day
thirsty no more for I am lakes and rivers clear
lost no more for I am each guiding star
confined no more for I am vistas wide and far
hungry no more for I am bounty and harvest divine
this the awakened faith mine
the awakened
the awakened
the awakened faith mine. 

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Sunrise, photo, Flandrum Hill, Wordpress.

...the pain is real... PTSD ~ Heed the cry...

PTSD ~ Heed the cry...

“Even though I knew they were just fireworks on the 4th of July, to me they still sounded like incoming mortars. It took me right back to my deployment…”

webs of thought, echoes of time sound
the din of shocked sensibilities
what was, now is once more
hush, hush be the cry, the plea
free what is trapped deep within me
shed these shackles of shadow and despair
heed the cry for resolve and Creation's care
listen, listen, and there shall be heard
the search, the want of the guiding WORD
let there be a command of self whole and true
let the bonds of torment give way to light ever new.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

photo courtesy: http://thegallopingbeaver.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

...and so it is... Nature's Plan...

demanding are the many tasks at hand
a perception, a plan, action in command
intention and focus be the alert of the day
the gift of time and a knowing provide the way
how sweet when vision is newly held clear
when the din of despair is silenced and gone the fear
how comforting is this moment's embrace
when within heart, love the soul does place
how knowing is this Spirit's call
when resounding with the grace of ALL
the clamor and chaos hushed they be
heard be the song bird in the towering oak tree
and as I cast my sight to the lambent sky
feel I the beauty of the moving clouds up so high
the lithe bamboo touched by the south winds that blow
breath, faith, 'tis all that I need now know
the day by Nature's plan shall unfold
and I to be led by the Divine WORD ever told.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Lambent Sky, Photo, PFR, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.

click on image for a beautifully enlarged view

The fear, the doubt, 'tis not your soul...

what be these lessons at hand

what is it that lies at heart's command

what TRUTH be masked by deception's call

what beckons from the spirit of ALL

what shadows upon light yet prevail

what is this din that echoes travail

the fear, the doubt, 'tis not your soul true

'tis but illusion cast upon you

deceit's binding cloak now to be ever shed

from TRUTH within soul let thee be led

beauty expressed in blessed word and artful deed

 YOU the light and power of TRUTH in living creed.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Written for an artist

Drapery study with pen and ink, The Erythraean Sibyl 1508-1509, Cappella Sistina Vatican,

 Michelangelo Buonarroti 1475-1564.

Dulcinea ~ within this heart heard...

What moves this hand

Wherein lies its command

Strokes upon canvas white

Hold I to the perceived light

Color to embrace and enfold

A story within this silence told

Each stroke upon canvas to convey

What words alone are too pale to say

A palette of passion, colors of grace

Brush stroke by brush stroke, this knowing to embrace

Tones and shadings in reverence sublime

Imbued are we with gifts divine

A resounding call in heart be heard

Within be known the soulful WORD.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Dulcinea, Watercolor, Abstract, Rose Marie Raccioppi, http://www.apogeeart.com/

Dulcinea from The Man of La Mancha

This song is sung by the Priest of the "middle level" of the play, where Cervantes is Alhonso Quiana who has come to believe that he is the knight Don Quixote and has devoted his life to justice in the lovely lady Dulcinea (who may only exist in his mind). The Priest is sympathetic to Quiana's state and sees both the comforts and the dangers of dedication to a dream. 

To each his Dulcinea ...

That he alone can name,
To each a secret hiding place:
Where he can find the haunting face --
To light his secret flame ...

For with his Dulcinea beside him so to stand,
A man can do quite anything:
Outfly the bird upon the wing --
Hold moonlight in his hand ...

Yet if you build your life on dreams,
It's prudent to recall:
A man with moonlight in his hands --
Has nothing there at all ...

There is no Dulcinea ...

She's made of flame and air,
And yet how lovely life would seem:
If every man could weave a dream --
To keep him from despair.

To each his Dulcinea ...
Though she's only flame and air ...

Lyrics by Joe Darion

...and so the rain... Clouds in Strokes of Gray

rain for many a day
clouds in strokes of gray
the light in glimmers prevail
to the blessings of rain we hail
blessed be fields of green and grain
gardens in bounty in bloom to claim
flowers be fruit in abundant yield
gifts of Creation upon garden, farm and field
rain for many a day
clouds in strokes of gray
the light in glimmers prevail
to the blessings of rain we hail.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

When the Sky is Gray, Watercolor, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.

Truth and Beauty as One

pulsing be these cords of passion

sounding the calling quest

pulsing be these ascending roots of vision

the heart and soul in divine accord

truth and beauty as one

breath and life as one

being BE - this moment BIRTH ETERNAL

pulsing... sounding... pulsing...

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Inscription: 

"Beauty, old yet ever new, eternal voice and inward word."

Frederick William MacMonnies, 1863-1937, Sculpture, Beauty, Carrara marble, Constructed, 1914-1920.

A Visit ~ You Sing Your Song

You Sing Your Song

At a wood crafted table

Weathered, grayed

By rain, sun and shade

The silent echoes of trees

From which it was made

A robin red breast near

Its song a knowing wise

For it too sees the tree

In its now present disguise

So still, so quiet, I to be

To keep that robin near 

On the lookout by me

Not pained by days past

Not burdened with lessons of history

No fear to soar the sky

No doubt in moment present

Little bird, little bird

You sing your song

And ALL is known.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Fence Post Lookout, Photograph, Stephen Baird, 2009, http://www.nikonsniper.blogspot.com

Shadows of Grace

darkened be the morning sky

a veil of gray up on high

a quietude to behold

this moment enfold

peeking light between leaves of green

shadows of grace be they seen.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Veil of Gray, Photo: CAR, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.

Bloom and Splendor

favors of Spring this day be known
the blessings of rain be they shown
at my door in beckoning glee
leaf and bloom upon each tree
and from the sky so high above
the sweet rain of nature's love
upon grass, leaf, branch and bough
droplets holding to Spring's sacred vow
lush and green blessings brought to me
bloom and splendor of the Dogwood tree.
 
Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Dogwood, Photo: PFR, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.

Tribute to John William Waterhouse

Haiku Reflection

delicate passion

beauty in such loving grace

from soul be this known.

In gratitude to Josh.

Rose Marie Raccioppi 
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York 

Primal Rhythms

Primal rhythms
heard within the depths of me
The sound of cresting waves
breaking at sea
Flowing, cascading, cresting,
luxuriant waters divine
The feel, the sound, the ebb and flow,
blissful breath mine.

 

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

The Moon and Waves, Oil on canvas, 2007, George Dmitriev, 1957, Murom, Russia, 1957-. http://www.artrussia.ru

Majestic Array

Petals enfolding the caress of light
Wings of violet brushed with white
Savor I such flowering rapture this day
The Iris, Spring's bloom in majestic array.

 

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Majestic Array, Iris, Photograph, Collectible Clicks, © Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.