Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts

Monday, April 20, 2026

250th Anniversary of the United States ~ Declaration of Independence - A Vision in Praise




John Trumbull's painting depicting the drafting committee of the 
Declaration of Independence.


IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

"The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America"

"WHEN in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of man- kind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

And so OUR FOREFATHERS  stood firm:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."

As a 4th grade student, the history of the birthing of the United States became known. I learned of the 13 colonies, the settlers with vision, with aspirations, with sovereignity, with unity, and righteousness, made their settlements. Pioneering, and with held convictions, they declared their capacity and right to freedoms, representation, and righteousness. The Declaration of Independence of 1776 was, and is, a delineation of their visions.

The 5 pointed star, sacred geometry in symbolic accord, 5 the 'mark' of freedom. Yes, in a school 'play' I was Betsy Ross, and sewed 13, 5 pointed stars onto a flag to represent each of the 13 original colonies. 

When placed upon the flag, the star became a declaration of sovereign presence, each colony a point of light, each community a complete expression of purpose, each contribution essential to the harmony of the whole. The constellation formed by thirteen stars revealed unity through radiance, equality through shared illumination, and destiny through collective brilliance. 

The thirteen stars, each a symbol of sovereign purpose, together formed a vision of unity that continues to illuminate the nation’s identity. Their geometry speaks of aspiration, radiance, and the enduring truth that a people conscious of their dignity,  create a future worthy of their light.

The United States of America, the flag, the national anthem, are held in respectful accord... yes, a vision made real... a child free...


A VISION IN PRAISE

In Righteousness our Forefathers stood firm
a calling forth, a petition, for all to discern
testimony, accusations, abuses, real
all brought forth, no longer to conceal
TRUTH in its expression, revelation shown
the voices of TRUTH were then openly known
we a people who define freedom within a righteous soul
let us hold sacred, life in its blessed expression and goal
our BEING, our Freedoms, Blessings held in GOD's loving grace
all be known within our light, the light in heart we place
A DECLARATION our Forefathers in confidence drew
Our 250th Anniversary 
in reverent celebration onto you.

Respectfully,

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York
~


Monday, April 6, 2026

Monday following EASTER

 



Late Morning ~ the Monday following Easter ~ here in New York

To the glimmers of a lambent firmament on high
The sun beholden to the glory of a clear blue sky
See I, the tiny buds of bloom upon branch and bough
Held by creation's supernal grace, a blessed vow
The Easter Rising pulses the heart with passion and praise
The present hour, the grace, the rising of our days
In prayerful words, petitioned is the light to come
For felt is the GLORY, LORD and GOD, 
THY WILL BE DONE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
APOGEE Poet
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

PHOTO: CAR: Collectible Clicks. Easter Bloom, Tappan, New York, MAMA in delight at Washington Headquarters, memorial Historic Park.

~

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Here it BE... and I ...



September in its 4th day ...
the brilliance and warmth
of the noon hour sun
the surrounding air
holding to the newly cut grass
a freshness of green awakened
in this moment all embracing
I am the red ray of the sun
red, the passion
the touch of the sun's light
upon closed eyes cast skyward
the roots below in nurturance
I am the green ray of the field of grass
felt is the quiver of grass new
grass awakened following mowing care
in the distance heard is the resounding freight train
a moving forward in the grace of this day
in the NOW of quietude at Washington Headquarters
within the stillness is the motion of time
the momentum that beckons breath, beauty
BEING and BECOMING.

Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Photo: CAR, @Collectible Clicks, 2025, 
George Washington Headquarters, Tappan, New York

Monday, August 4, 2025

Water Wheel ~ George Washington Headquarters, Tappan, New York




WATER WHEEL
The brightness of the noon day sun
The sound of the moving water
Majestic flowers in bright array
THE WATER WHEEL in its power and grace
Turning turning, Sounding sounding
Beheld I be in its sacred sounding place.

Photos: CAR, WATER WHEEL, Collectible Clicks,
@Rose Marie Raccioppi, 
Tappan, New York.

~

Thursday, May 29, 2025

This Great Grand Tree

 



Look I, to this Great Grand Tree
my eyes taken skyward
past the strong rooting
past the aging bark
past the broken branches
to the flourishing leaves that be
to the luxuriant green cascading free
to the light of the sky heavenly blue
Great Grand Tree, Great Grand Mother YOU.

APOGEE Poet
POET Laureate
Orangetown, New York

PHOTO: Great Grand Tree, by CAR, @Collectible Clicks,
Rose Marie Raccioppi, 
Washington Memorial Park, Tappan, New York, May 2025.

~

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

TREE TRUNKS

 






TREE TRUNKS
From mighty roots
They grow.
Time in layers
Configurations
Circling patterns
Enduring strength.
Hear I, untold stories
Whispering tales
Of winds gone by.
I stand in awe
Of years beyond my days.

Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

 

Photo credit: George Washington Memorial Park, Tappan, NY,
Collectible Clicks. CAR, @Rose Marie Raccioppi, May 2025
~ Click on each image for a delightfully fuller view ~

 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Here in Tappan, New York... there be...

 



Here in Tappan, New York... there be...

This tree trunk holds the gifts of time
Of seasons, the supernal, the divine
Feel I its bark strong in its resolve and grace
Within be told stories that hearts have placed
Rooted yet free be our stories told
Decades have we each come to unfold
With bloom, glory, and sweet frivolity
Flowering branches of sun, light, rain, there be.

APOGEE Poet
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

~

Friday, September 8, 2023

...and Why a P O E M ...

 



In Commemoration... in Tribute... in Dedication ... in Acknowledgment... in Remembrance...

APOGEE Poet
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York



Monday, April 17, 2023

We Question... WHAT BE... 2023 ~ National Poetry Month,


 

Dear Residents –
As it is National Poetry Month, this week I will leave you with a poem from Rose Marie Raccioppi, Orangetown's very own Poet Laureate:
We Question... WHAT BE...2023

what be the purpose of words to share
but to know of one's heart expressing care
what be the purpose of banner and praise
but to bring celebration to our gift of days
what be the purpose to guide and teach
but to know that beauty and truth are within our reach
what be the purpose to know of time, space and measure
but to account for life's perceived treasure
what be the purpose to know of vistas so very far
but to know that we too hold the light of a star
what be the purpose to know of history and time's story
but to understand the ever present quest for power and glory
what be the purpose of drama and stage
but to act out the calling of soul, time and age
what be the purpose of music, dance and a song to sing
but to know the pulsing our hearts do bring
what be the purpose to draw, paint, sculpt, to hold a vision divine
but to revere and mark in splendor a life yours, a life mine
what be the purpose of holding accord of word and deed
but to live the honor of our days as a blessed creed.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Have a great weekend everyone!
Regards,
Teresa M. Kenny
Town Supervisor
Town of Orangetown
26 Orangeburg Road
Orangeburg, New York 10962
(845) 359-5100 x 2293


Rose Marie Raccioppi
by PROCLAMATION
honored for her 12th Year as 
Poet Laureate 
Orangetown, New York.

Thank YOU to the Town of Orangetown, New York 
Teresa M. Kenny. Supervisor
Town Board Members ~ Jerry Bottari, Thomas Diviny, Brian Donohue, Paul Valentine. 
For his reading, a special Thank YOU to Councilman Denis Troy.

~

Friday, April 22, 2022

In honor of April being 2022 National Poetry Month

 

April 22, 2022
Dear Residents - 
 
In honor of April being 2022 National Poetry Month, I leave you with the Orangetown Poet Laureate's words:
 
With Poet's Pen
 
With poet's pen this quest to write
Of the eternal now be shadow or light
The dark bears not demise
For the Sun in glory does rise
Within the depths of night, stars in brilliant array
In PRESENCE we greet the dawning of a new day 
Let us hold resolve in chambers of our heart 
From which love ever bears its supernal start
Let us see our differences with a vision newly clear
Hold to life's blessings of breath and BEING dear 
We the deciders, the change makers are to claim 
TRUTH, HARMONY, GRACE, PEACE in GOD's name.
 
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York
 


Teresa M. Kenny
Town of Orangetown
26 Orangeburg Road
Orangeburg, New York 10962
(845) 359-5100 x 2293

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

...pen in hand... love's ardent command...

 



...pen in hand... love's ardent command.

and here this pen in poet's hand
wherein is heart's command
a smile, a gesture, the warming sun
a creed, a mission, a task now done
'tis not what I alone to answer nor unfold
the pleas of need be too, your story told
all awakens for the vision yet held
purpose and right intention in glory meld
with word and reach and Faith in command
and here this pen in poet's hand
expressive of light and heartfelt love
be the blessings supernal of heavens above
visions of resolve and peace there be
in the bounty of love from sea to sea
a thought, a knowing, from vistas far
ever the light from a distant star
and awakened we be to the sun rising new
life in glory, in grace bestowed upon you
and I a poet with pen in hand
beholden to love's ardent command.

APOGEE Poet
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Saturday, September 25, 2021

This Saturday, a New York September Day


 

The light of a bright moon in the early hours of the day
The dawning and the rising sun, time itself at play 
Leaves in captivating colors of crimson and gold
The season of Fall in glory its tale be now told
The chirping of birds, perched, and in soaring flight
Such be the blessings of this noon day light 
A deep sigh and a loving peace be known anew
This our BEING, the grace of GOD in blessings onto you. 


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Photo: Rustling Leaves, CAR, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi.


Sunday, September 17, 2017

A Sunday in September...

Outside my Window... in Tappan, New York...

the towering dogwood in blushing tones of crimson
the song bird singing its song ever so sweetly
the scamper of squirrels
the dew touched grass in splendors of green
the sky alight with the promise of the day
the gifts, the gifts, expressions of The Way.


Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Monday, May 15, 2017

S I M P L Y ...


Simply...
This day in May, at this hour in Tappan, New York...

All holding to the light
Sweet sounding melody of rustling leaves
Dogwood blooms carried by the gentle winds
Lambent sky and a caressing warmth
Song birds alight in lilting song
Such be this NOW of grace
All holding to the light.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York