Thursday, May 31, 2018

In the Garden


In the garden...
blooms in such winsome array
holding to the light of the dawning day
folds of color in majestic glory
be this, be this, Creation's story
beauty to behold in blooms divine
be this the gift of the NOW of time
in the garden heed I a beckoning call
celebrate, celebrate, the NOW of ALL.


Rose Marie Raccioppi 
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Photo: In the Garden, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2018.


Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Watchfires, Memorial Day, 2018


And so they burn… WATCHFIRES

“Since 1987, Rockland County’s Vietnam Veterans have come together to build such fires according to the military regulations and specifications of the 1700’s.

* Watchfires are built every year on May 30th, the traditional Memorial Day. They are lit at midnight and burn until dawn on Memorial Day, then refueled at dark and burn til midnight again. Veterans stand watch, changing shifts through the night, and day, and night, as they had a generation ago.”

—Vietnam Veterans of America, Rockland County’s Chapter

Pictured here, on the sidelines of this photo, is the: 
MONUMENT MARKS 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF CAMP SHANKS, WW II BASE LOCATED IN ROCKLAND COUNTY...

The inscription on the monument is the heartfelt poetic tribute to OUR VETERANS by Rose Marie Raccioppi, Poet Laureate, Orangetown, New York.

To Honor Those Who Lived a Cause

Flowers and flags in devoted array
A loving tribute in homage this day
To honor those who lived a cause
This moment, this day, and so a pause
Hearts and souls in valor known
Right Intention and devotion shown
Battlefields of victory and plight
Through all beheld freedom’s light
Answered they did to liberty’s plea
That freedom be held for a you, a me
Sons and daughters, husbands and wives
Children of purpose have given their lives
The breath of freedom an endowment divine
Bequeathed to life yours, life mine
With valor and sacrifice they gave
And embraced the call yet to be brave
In memorial and reverence gather we
For held be the right that we live free
Memory of each life gone never to fade
Live we life’s blessings for sacrifice made.


EVER SHALL WE REMEMBER … with a special dedication to Jerry Donnellan for his vision made real…

http://apogeepoet.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-monument-marks-70th-anniversary-of_8.html

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Monday, May 28, 2018

Memorial Day 2018



...and why a poet this day in Memorial Tribute...
…a day of reverence, respect, a salute...
a quiet certainty… words that call to the silence
words that pulse the heart
praise be an expressive joy
an embracing gratitude
ascension
the rising of spirit 
the glory, the glory of the WORD in Memorial Tribute

beyond lament there is love
beyond shadow there is light
beyond despair there is divinity
beyond dismay there is beauty
beyond death there is eternal life

Be this the freedoms cherished
The lives in valor dedicated
The sons, the daughters, in service 
The visions held for freedom
The loss of limb, of life
The willingness to confront
The heart held resolve
The heart held resolve
Its ever present pulsing quest
Humankind to live in liberation
To be freed of domination
To be freed of oppression
To be SELF in expression

This the silent yet resounding pledge
This the rising in defense
This the Veteran in knowing sacrifice 

'Tis the vision of freedom and valor within souls we hail
Homage, gratitude to Our Veterans ever, ever, to prevail
And as we look to vistas far and the heavens above
Our Veterans in the embrace, in the embrace of God’s love.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York




Friday, May 18, 2018

In Reflection... Nebula


In Reflection...
To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.
Robert Schumann
Composer
1810 - 1856

Stars and galaxies, vistas of splendor and glory
Within the secrets, the miracles of Creation's story
Stardust in waves of time and space
From which our spirit we to trace
Light beholden within our heart
From where love has its primal start
Known be the fire of the Creator's flame
And we the Presence of All so named.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


The Blue Horsehead Nebula in Infrared 
Image Credit: WISE, IRSA, NASA; Processing & Copyright :
Francesco Antonucci


Monday, May 14, 2018

Garden Song of the Night...



Garden Song of the Night

listen to the night
feel the quiver of roots
the garden song be heard
the gentle rain in libation
entrancing emergent  green
touched by the light of the stars
this night, this night in blessings BE.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Garden Song of the Night, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, APOGEE Vibrational Art, www.thesoundinglight.blogspot.com


Sunday, May 13, 2018

A ROSE of White...


A ROSE of White

delicate beauty bears this ROSE of white
petals to hold the Creator's light
a symbol of purity, a symbol of love
spirit from earth and heavens above
a bloom, the grace of the divine
touched be the heart, yours, mine
be this a flower that comes to say
have a loving and blessed Mother's Day.


Ever with love,
Rose Marie Raccioppi


Friday, May 11, 2018

The ALCHEMIST...


Ah… and what be the agenda of the ALCHEMIST…

Aspiration
  Love
    Creation
      Harmony
        Exchange
          Manifestation
            Inspiration
              Spirit
                Truth ...

... conjure the magic... be touched by its spell.


Rose Marie Raccioppi



The Alchemist, Watercolour & Gouache, 31 x 24cm, Chris Dunn, 2012.


Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Realms ...



upon the brown earth I stand 
the warmth of this day and I am entwined
the lambent sky of clear blue bears an embracing light
suspended in a timeless moment of BEING
weightless as in a dream
contained as in a womb
free be this flight of blessedness
free be this soaring
this soaring into the realms 
into the realms of BEING.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York