We are ever in deliverance. The prizes and treasures we gather, the
disappointments and pain we endure, define our deliverance onto SELF. The SELF
as Spirit, as Eternity, as Love, as Freedom, offered as poetic encounters, a
thirty year journey to wellness. And so these echoes of heart, the deliverance onto SELF... the Phoenix Rising.
When I first heard "The Greatest Love of All," a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, it was at the time I was ravaged by the clutches of cancer. The words validated for me what was silently within my very soul. With deep faith and conviction, I chose to fully live the words, and since 1983 have been cancer free and have not wavered from the message that allowed me to once again soar with the fullness of life. And so my life's work continues to unfold... as the Greatest Love Of All ...
And so...I proclaimed...
Bequeath Your Presence
Within this soul
love's call though silent
resounds with longing
Within this heart
love's call though silent
echoes a lament
Within this stillness
the resounding of what once was
Within the emptiness
the fullness of despair
Are these the sensibilities absent of God's care
Ravage not this body and spirit
Ravage not this faith and trust
Bequeath Your Presence
Cancer no more.
And so a BARD I BE...
Yes, I a BARD of modern day calling
to convey the glory of Being
to live the majesty of Aspiration
to know the wondrous in Revelation
in all moments present
in Gratitude.
The deepest of introspection, the willingness to unveil, unmask... no more pretense, a SELF in revelation.
As one commits to a purpose to a path ... questions are raised... and I ask...
Who
Who heeds the words of this poet
Who listens to these echoes of heart
Who feels the yearnings and the fire
Who sees the vision held clear
Is it the wind that whispers its own song
Is it the sun that warms and nourishes
Is it the moon that sheds its light
Is it the star that guides our way
Is it the stranger who extends a hand
Is it the child who gives a knowing smile
Is it the soul in its moment of call
Is it God in all present grace
Who heeds the words of this poet
Who listens to these echoes of heart
Who feels the yearnings and the fire
Who sees the vision held clear.
So too, is asked ...
What Be this Poet's Plea
What be this poet's plea
But to honor God's gifts
Be they of land, sky, ocean or sea
To know that All and One are given in grace
And in gratitude be our care, our loving embrace
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
Words to hold to the knowing of heart and soul
Reverent be our gratitude, our calling toll
And what be this poet's plea
But to honor God's gifts
Be they of land, sky, ocean or sea.
And what BE Woman but one ...
Holding to the Wonder
Aware of the Omnipresent
Feeling the Marvel
Living the Aspiration
Fulfilling Need
Words to define what it is to be a woman
Come from the special meaning of who we are
With grace we receive and provide the ultimate giving
With love we nurture
With question we pursue
With pain we give birth and revel in its miracle
With persistence we provide
We are blessed to be
The receiver and giver of life.
Guide books on self development, meditative practices, all to bring SELF to appraise... to this I respond...
Appraise
Appraise well this treasure of time
The endowment of days made mine
Pearls of wisdom shall there be
Golden moments of alchemy
Gems of gratitude a collection fair
Blessings priceless coins of care
Appraise well this treasure of time
Measures weighed upon a life line.
And to those disciplines that speak of the I AM...
I AM
I AM the ALL of ALL
the breath of BEING
the inhalation the exhalation
the rippling waters of the stream
the cresting wave of the ocean
the rising and setting sun
the ebb and flow of the tides
the seed the flower in bloom
the passion the rapture all sensibilities
I AM WOMAN
ever in receipt ever in giving.
The words, the visions, the impressions we hold in mind, in body, in heart, ever resound. It is our choice to affirm, negate, validate, invalidate, accept, deny, each of these callings. Yes, reveal...
Unfold...
Reflections, aspirations, expressions and desire
Words speak of life, passion, flame and fire
A gift of life now ever to be known
By the words of heart you have shown
And others may now be freed to reveal
What in their hearts they yet conceal
Many a story there is to be told
From days past a page to unfold.
Pages read, books completed, and the question, the quest, YOURSELF... The letters reveal the query...
what Yearnings have you answered
what Oneness do you seek
what Unity have you lived
what Revelations have you welcomed
what Spirit makes itself known
what Eternal quest calls to your heart
what Love have you embraced
what Freedom do you live...
Another has proclaimed...
While with an eye made quiet by the power
Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,
We see into the life of things.
William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was a major English Romantic poet
COMPOSED A FEW MILES ABOVE TINTERN ABBEY, ON REVISITING THE BANKS OF THE WYE DURING A TOUR. JULY 13, 1798
As I read these words of William Wordsworth, the depths of poetry were revealed, the mission of my life's work as a sound therapist, and my passion for poetic expression, became ONE. HARMONY be the questing state of BEING. This the APOGEE Paradigm, defined when I was but seven years of age as my calling, my destiny. The poet, the educator, the artist, the advocate, the activist, the exploration, the discovery, the receiving, the giving, the offerings... each and all to bring...
HARMONY...
Be they of...
Heart
Aspiration
Revelation
Manifestation
Omnipresence
Need
Yielding ... to the light, the grace, the resounding pulse of Life itself.
Words upon a page, posted on the web... ah, yes...
The Echoing Word
'tis the joy of expression to share
met by hearts that feel the mission of care
a word, a thought, a moment's knowing wise
the daunting shall meet its delivered demise
our heart's calling calling be it ever heard
may LOVE ~ LOVE be the echoing word.
Yet, heard be the doubts and fears...
Alchemy to Ring
Man in freedom so born is he
Yet shackled he sets himself to be
Oppression dark upon heart yet be lain
The echoes of emotion still held profane
The mind to silence daunting echoes of time past
And free the self from binding chains cast
Memory called to free mind, heart and soul
Alchemy to ring its welcomed toll.
Self-help, the law of attraction, exercise, meditation, body work, yoga... all to bring wellness and light... Robert Schuman, Composer, 1810-1856, wrote: "To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist."
Light Beholden
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.
And as the beauty be perceived, the cacophony, the noise, the clamor of the news, yet resounds... How does one reconcile the discord... the question beckons the answer...
I, In FAITH
Conspiracy, corruption and travail
Beyond aberration THE WORD to prevail
Just as the night pursues the light of day
So too, ever present be the path, THE WAY
Illusions cast as truths to be revealed
THE WORD to cast light on deceptions concealed
And known to us be our soul's desire
The PHOENIX to rise from passion's fire
From the depths of our knowing heart
TRUTH, LOVE, PEACE, MERCY, BEAUTY, shan't depart
This I in FAITH claim to be true
This the GRACE OF GOD on to You.
We may well be besieged by a ... Thunderous sounding... a lightning... an awakening...
Thunderous Sounding
what be this awakening sweet
where grace and intention meet
what be this thunderous sounding in heart
where all that is has its knowing start
what be this soaring of spirit and soul
where vision is one with heart and goal
this be the Self, the TRUTH to embrace
where all that is blessed in knowing I place
where judgment, reprisal, illusion and demise
be cast aside by Spirit, an awareness wise
beyond the drama and lies yet heard
is the beloved glory of the divine WORD
joyful gratitude to fill my days
so be the embodiment of SELF in PRAISE.
In embrace of liberation... in the majestic moments of meditation ...
The Wind and The Willow...
The Wind
all pervading
free
one with all direction
The Willow
rooted ever in search
branch and leaf so humbly bend
holding to the wind
the light
and the unseen Presence
Wind and Willow, so I am
thought, mind and spirit
all pervading
free
one with all direction
holding to the unseen Presence.
Your ARRIVAL is welcomed...
An Arrival
an arrival
from storming moments
from pain beyond understanding
from deception and false realities
from the daunting echoes of oppression
an arrival
from the din of judgments
from the cacophony of opinions
from haunting doubts and fears
from care coupled with resentment
an arrival
to the blooms of Summer
to the colors of Fall
to the surrender of Winter
to the delights of Spring
an arrival
to the majesty of the heavens
to the divinity of the moon and stars
to the splendor of the dawning day
to the light behind the storm
an arrival
to the wonders of BEING
to the exploration of cause
to the power of intent
to the resolves of time
an arrival
to the embrace of SELF
to the WORD known
to the gifts of CREATION
to the SOUL revealed.
We are the WEAVERS... Threads of Time...
we gave a cry and all rejoiced for this our birth complete
we are our first steps greeted with open arms
our first word that brought an admiring smile...
Threads of Time
trace the years and their memories await anew
a montage, a kaleidoscope, of one's life view
sounds, impressions, of place time and moments sweet
where our dreams and our days come to meet
praise, punishment, joy and pain come to define
a life known as rightly yours, a life lived as mine
and what brings reason to pause this very day
but the wondrous Creation given by Life along its way
a sculpture unveiled and all in AWE and PRAISE
for what each has brought to their ennobled days
and then a painting, a poem, an endearing embrace
upon a time line of memories now they to place
decades of moons have brought mystery and delight
magical be this waxing and waning of Creation's light
and so this heart, this soul, in time's grasp and claim
be held in the spirit and glory of our Creator's name
be it of yesterdays or days yet, and dreams enfold
each new gaze, a breath, a sigh, be this our story told
with threads of time Life's cloak we weave
let it BE the warp and weft of Divinity conceived.
And there may well be many a tangled thread, webs of thought, restlessness..
The Mask
What be this restlessness I feel
These impressions but illusions real
See behind the mask beyond the veil
See the denied pain that is yet to prevail
The masquerade and pretense held to conceal
The SELF that TRUTH alone is to reveal
Reveal, I hear this night command
Cloak not the quiver of shadow close at hand
Remove pretense and the mask donned to conceal
The TRUTH, the deep knowing, this knowing real
Confront and resolve, the petition summons a call
Beyond all consideration, TRUTH to lay bear ALL
To the plea of this petition I to heed
And TRUTH, 'tis ever the rightful creed.
We need strength and renewed faith to Give Way...
Give Way
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.
We need listen... deeply listen... Wisdom of All be known...
Wisdom of All
Oh how the mind conceives the thought
With restlessness your heart is wrought
For there is a just and kingly goal
Distant yet touching your crying soul
Be burdened not by task and deed
Lest you be lost to the greater creed
Inspired by self and the knowing within
Shall you pass the haunt, the doom of the din
Listen dear child to thy self sovereign and wise
Heed not to temptation, deception and lies
For it is the tear of joy that you shall weep
When the Promise you vow, you do keep
And when you reach and court the dream
With God's love stand thou supreme
Deception takes not your abiding soul
You have reached a kingly goal
As many may doubt and may berate
You shall prevail for love is thy fate
Guide the children, know their call
With God's tender love and wisdom of all.
So be these offerings, given in Celebration of SELF... the SELF of you, and you and you and you... as the Poet's Tidings...
The Poet's Tidings
Moments of memory, treasure be mine
The troves, the garlands, the gems of time
Each hour, each day, each year now past
A journey, a questing, a destiny cast
Awaken awaken to the vision yet held
Destiny and purpose in glory meld
The sounding heart with yearning real
Reverie and passion beyond conceal
The Muse calls to sound its claim
Beauty and Truth the poet to name
A blessed grace be it known, be it heard
'Tis the poet's tidings in heartfelt word.
In closing...
"The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself and carry you away. It is the means by which the artist conveys his passion. It is the current which he puts forth, which sweeps you along in his passion. The pain passes, the beauty remains." Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Thank you in this spirit of TRUTH and BEAUTY.
Phoenix Rising, Watercolor, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2013.
