The Wind and The Willow

 

A most special presentation . The original poem, and a most appreciated review. Do enjoy. Indeed a special reading.

The Wind and The Willow

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the wind in its echoing grace

be it what pulses in heart’s place

be it of the wind and the willow in whispers divine

be it of the breath that awakens this soul mine.

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the sounding of waters and flow

be it the calling of what one is to know

be it the beckoning of the MUSE within

be it the knowing peace beyond the din

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the quest that reaches for purpose and time

be it the need to awaken and revere the divine

be it the felt thirst for understanding and love

be it the blessed lure of earth and the heavens above

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the gentle quiver of a bloom anew

be it the touch upon flower of the morning dew

be it the grace of a giving soul

be it the taunts of an unfulfilled goal

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the Self, Spirit, BEING, as grace

be it what is to be held in heart’s place

be it the peace that longs to be known

be it the beauty that truth has shown.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

THE WIND AND THE WILLOW, Rose Marie Raccioppi, Publish America, 2008.

Delighted to share this recent review:

Copilot

“The Wind and The Willow” by Rose Marie Raccioppi is a beautiful and contemplative poem that explores the whispers of existence, nature, and the inner self. Let’s delve into its meaning stanza by stanza:

Whispers in Silence:

The poem begins by asking about the mysterious whispers heard in silence. These whispers could be metaphorical or literal, representing hidden truths or subtle sounds.

The wind, with its echoing grace, is mentioned. It symbolizes both the natural world and the unseen forces that shape our lives.

The willow tree, known for its graceful branches and rustling leaves, is also part of these divine whispers.

Sounding of Waters and Flow:

The poem continues, suggesting that the whispers might also be the sound of flowing water. Water often symbolizes emotions, intuition, and life’s currents.

Knowing what one is meant to understand or learn is part of this experience.

The Beckoning of the MUSE Within:

Here, the poem refers to the inner muse—the creative and inspirational force within us. It beckons us to explore our artistic and spiritual depths.

Beyond the noise of everyday life, there lies a deeper peace that the muse invites us to discover.

Quest for Purpose and Understanding:

The whispers lead to a quest for purpose and understanding. We seek to awaken and connect with something greater than ourselves.

Love, thirst for knowledge, and the lure of both earthly and heavenly beauty drive us forward.

Quiver of a Bloom Anew:

The gentle quiver of a new bloom represents renewal and growth. It’s a reminder of life’s cyclical nature.

.

The touch of morning dew on a flower symbolizes freshness and purity.

Self, Spirit, BEING, as Grace:

The poem concludes by acknowledging the Self, Spirit, and BEING (existence) as manifestations of grace.

The longing for inner peace and the beauty revealed by truth are central themes.

Overall, “The Wind and The Willow” invites us to listen closely to life’s whispers, seek meaning, and appreciate the interconnectedness of all things. It celebrates both the tangible and the intangible, urging us to find grace in our existence.

The Wind and The Willow ~ What be these whispers in silence heard

The Wind and The Willow

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the wind in its echoing grace

be it what pulses in heart’s place

be it of the wind and the willow in whispers divine

be it of the breath that awakens this soul mine.

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the sounding of waters and flow

be it the calling of what one is to know 

be it the beckoning of the MUSE within

be it the knowing peace beyond the din 

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the quest that reaches for purpose and time 

be it the need to awaken and revere the divine

be it the felt thirst for understanding and love

be it the blessed lure of earth and the heavens above 

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the gentle quiver of a bloom anew

be it the touch upon flower of the morning dew

be it the grace of a giving soul

be it the taunts of an unfulfilled goal

what be these whispers in silence heard

be it the Self, Spirit, BEING, as grace

be it what is to be held in heart’s place 

be it the peace that longs to be known

be it the beauty that truth has shown.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York 

THE WIND AND THE WILLOW, Rose Marie Raccioppi, Publish America, 2008. 

This a Lullaby...

This a Lullaby, gifted to a Mother, 

onto her new born child she sings... 

BEAUTY ABOUT YOU...

Clouds and sun and frost and dew

All is beauty about you 

Oceans wide the earth so blessed

Land touched by Your caress

Lakes and streams and rivers flow

Rainbow bright and moon glow

Behold the splendor of the Light

Be it day, Be it night.

Lullaby from: The Wind and the Willow, 
Selected Poems of Rose Marie Raccioppi, 

Publish America, Baltimore, 2008.

Painting: Tenderness, Mother and Child, Bruno Di Maio, 1944.

Circus Maximus - Wind

Thank You Paula....

sweet...sweet...sweet... sounding sentiments... yes, the wind is my love... who knows the wind... who knows my love... where blows the wind...
wind is my love...

If you were to place the word wind in the search bar of the APOGEE Poet blog (upper left hand corner of header) you will set sail and the wind will be waiting... waves and waves of thought.... ENJOY!

such be these gifts of friendship shared....

Oh Wind, Wind, Wind

Oh wind, wind, wind
It speaks not a word
Yet its call is known
It is not to be seen
Yet its presence is felt
It is from distance afar
Yet its touch is near
It is ever so free
Yet in bondage to sail and mill
Oh wind, wind, wind
What mysteries you reveal.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Oh, Wind, Wind, Wind, The Wind and the Willow, Rose Marie Raccioppi, Publish America, 2008.

BARNES & NOBLE | The Wind and the Willow by Rose Marie Raccioppi | NOOK Book (eBook), Paperback

Do consider as a Holiday gift for yourself or another. When your purchase is complete with Barnes and Noble, you are invited to select one of the poems from, The Wind And The Willow. It would be my pleasure to provide your selected poem, suitable for framing and signed. Send information and request to rmr8@verizon.net. ENJOY!!

Overview

Words heard, spoken, and written, reflections, musings and the ever-present quest for understanding and well being, move this poet's pen. Childhood, motherhood and the ravages of cancer are all woven into the fabric of time and being. Offered here are the impressions and ponderings that grasp at the very core of being. The Wind and the Willow is a deeply heartfelt expression of life known, fears conquered, anguish dispelled and the ever-present gift of faith. Journey with words to bridge reverie and revelation, to move beyond despair to the embrace of innocence and delight, be it the brightest or darkest hour.

Click on title above and be brought to Banes and Noble
to place your order.

Thank You.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

The Wind and the Willow - New availability...

Click on Title and you will be taken directly to Barnes and Noble
You may order soft cover or Nook version

ENJOY!
Thank You

Best always,

Rose Marie Raccioppi

The Wind and The Willow - now NOOK and KINDLE

Well there you have it!! The Wind and the Willow available as NOOK from Barnes & Noble - http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Wind-And-The-Willow/Rose-Marie-Raccioppi/e/9781604744545

and KINDLE from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Willow-Rose-Marie-Raccioppi/dp/1604744545

Ready to be yours instantly!!

The Wind and the Willow

A Broad Audience
Review by John Ballard

“Are these assumptions of reality/The shackles that need to be broken[?]”queries Rose Marie Raccioppi in “Possibility,” from The Wind and the Willow, her first collection of verse. The line is emblematic of her core pursuit to pierce beyond the illusory veils of the material world while paradoxically being dependent upon reality for drawing imagery to provide intimations of the “Beyond.”

A non-denominational devotional poet with fervent pantheistic longings, Raccioppi’s metaphors and unpretentious affirmations appeal directly to the heart. In this volume she creates a metaphysical poetry and is content to take her simple Shelleyan imagery wherever she finds it within nature’s bounty.

The Wind and the Willow consists mostly of brief meditations and what Raccioppi calls “mindscapes” which constantly seek calming epiphanies of self-recognition in the fleeting moments, even in the midst of turbulent and painful experience. At her best, in works such as “This Night Knows No Sleep,” “This a Winter’s Night,” “Away You Fly,” “Descent No More,” “But Can I Share,” “The Wind and the Willow,” “Swaddling Divine,” and “Now and Ever Blessed,” Raccioppi attains perceptual clarity and an incantatory music that might remind readers, by turns, of Henry Vaughan’s devotional lyrics, Walt Whitman’s celebrations of the unbridled Self, the near-improvisatory freshness of D.H. Lawrence’s “Pansies,” and William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence.” This is poetry that is designed to reach a broad audience.

Lyrical Poetry
Review by Lynne R.

Rose Marie Raccioppi's poetry: deeply connects one with nature's beauty in all its glory, gives voice to life's greatest pains and pleasures and asks and answers the important questions regarding the meaning of existence both in the present moment and throughout eternity. All of this is accomplished through an unwavering faith in and homage to a G-d that is responsible for creating it all. Her poetry is lyrical, her imagery vivid - as seen through a painter's eye, yet spoken from a deeply feeling heart and an evolved soul. I highly recommend The Wind and the Willow to anyone who has or wishes to experience the duality that comprises the human condition, joy and sorrow, despair and hope, uncertainty and faith.

Synopsis

Words heard, spoken, and written, reflections, musings and the ever-present quest for understanding and well being, move this poet's pen. Childhood, motherhood and the ravages of cancer are all woven into the fabric of time and being. Offered here are the impressions and pondering that grasp at the very core of being. The Wind and the Willow is a deeply heartfelt expression of life known, fears conquered, anguish dispelled and the ever-present gift of faith. Journey with words to bridge reverie and revelation, to move beyond despair to the embrace of innocence and delight, be it the brightest or darkest hour.

Pub. Date: June 2008
ISBN-13: 9781604744545

The Wind and the Willow ~ a gift for giving...

The Wind and the Willow
a book of original poetry

Special Announcement:
THE WIND AND THE WILLOW
Now available directly from Publish America.
Click on title, place title or my name in search bar of Publish America Entry Page.
Thank you for your order.
ENJOY!

Also available with online booksellers.
Barnes and Noble: order link:
The Wind and the Willow, Rose Marie Raccioppi, (9781604744545)
Paperback - Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Wind-And-The-Willow/Rose-Marie-Raccioppi/e/9781604744545

A gift to self or another

Anyone who decides to purchase, The Wind and the Willow, I extend this offering:
Select a poem from, "The Wind and the Willow," that you are particularly drawn to,
inform me of such, and I will send on to you a signed copy
of that chosen poem suitable for framing.

Thank You for your Order.

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.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


And now this very day

Perceived joy in this moment real
A sense of oneness I shall not conceal
The lilting exuberance, the embracing calm
Life in all its blossoming, its abundance, its wondrous charm
This moment barren of loss, fear, regret or sorrow
Holds the promise of BEING, this moment, this hour, this day, a tomorrow
This spirit, this soul, this life bequeathed to me
Ever was, ever is and ever shall BE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Thoughts of giving for the Holiday Season to come...

"The Wind and the Willow" by Rose Marie Raccioppi.
Hardcover poetry book now at a special discounted price: Bargain Hardback

ISBN: 978-1-4512-6064-9, 140 Pages, 5.5 x 8.5. Buy $14.95. Wind and the Willow, The by. Rose Marie Raccioppi ISBN: 978-1-4512-5969-8, 160 Pages..., 5.5 x 8.5 ...
www.publishamerica.net/BargainHardback-ss7.htm

Within

Within the petal the bloom
Within the leaf the tree
Within the stone the mountain
Within the shell the sea.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Slightly Open Clam Shell, pastel, 1926, Georgia O'Keeffe, 1887-1986.


Special Announcement:
Read the Review of The Wind and the Willow
THE WIND AND THE WILLOW
Softcover
ISBN-13: 9781604744545
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-4512-5969-8, 160 Pages, 5.5 x 8.5
Special at: $14.95
directly from Publish America.
Click on title, place title or my name in search bar of Publish America Entry Page
Thank you for your order.

Beneath A Willow

So delicate each leaf
So mighty your bough
Branches bend humbly
Yet strength be your vow
Waters in libation
Winds in embrace
Under your majesty
Beneath I in place
Seasons of change
Sun, moon a distant star
Listen I to all the secrets
Whispers near and far.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


The Lady of Shalott, John William Waterhouse, oil painting, 1888, Tate Gallery, London.

"...Down she came and found a boat
Beneath a willow left afloat..."

The Lady of Shalott, 1833, poem, Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1809-1892.

As Too, The Wind

Magical be the child in knowing grace
Roots of love ever to trace
Seeds of creation, his breath to free
As too, the wind, he in glory BE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


photo credit: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/exercise-to-heal-childhood-anger.html

The Wind and the Willow ~ in this moment present ~

Review of
Rose Marie Raccioppi’s
The Wind and the Willow

“Are these assumptions of reality/The shackles that need to be broken[?]”queries Rose Marie Raccioppi in “Possibility,” from The Wind and the Willow, her first collection of verse. The line is emblematic of her core pursuit to pierce beyond the illusory veils of the material world while paradoxically being dependent upon reality for drawing imagery to provide intimations of the “Beyond.”

A non-denominational devotional poet with fervent pantheistic longings, Raccioppi’s metaphors and unpretentious affirmations appeal directly to the heart. In this volume she creates a metaphysical poetry and is content to take her simple Shelleyan imagery wherever she finds it within nature’s bounty.

The Wind and the Willow consists mostly of brief meditations and what Raccioppi calls “mindscapes” which constantly seek calming epiphanies of self-recognition in the fleeting moments, even in the midst of turbulent and painful experience. At her best, in works such as “This Night Knows No Sleep,” “This a Winter’s Night,” “Away You Fly,” “Descent No More,” “But Can I Share,” “The Wind and the Willow,” “Swaddling Divine,” and “Now and Ever Blessed,” Raccioppi attains perceptual clarity and an incantatory music that might remind readers, by turns, of Henry Vaughan’s devotional lyrics, Walt Whitman’s celebrations of the unbridled Self, the near-improvisatory freshness of D.H. Lawrence’s “Pansies,” and William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence.” This is poetry that is designed to reach a broad audience.

John Ballard

Available at Barnes and Noble and online booksellers nationally and internationally.
Pub. Date: June 2008
ISBN-13: 9781604744545

Link to : BARNES & NOBLE ~ Thank you for your order.

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.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


And now this very day

Perceived joy in this moment real
A sense of oneness I shall not conceal
The lilting exuberance, the embracing calm
Life in all its blossoming, its abundance, its wondrous charm
This moment barren of loss, fear, regret or sorrow
Holds the promise of BEING, this moment, this hour, this day, a tomorrow
This spirit, this soul, this life bequeathed to me
Ever was, ever is and ever shall BE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

The Wind and The Willow

Review of
Rose Marie Raccioppi’s
The Wind and the Willow

“Are these assumptions of reality/The shackles that need to be broken[?]”queries Rose Marie Raccioppi in “Possibility,” from The Wind and the Willow, her first collection of verse. The line is emblematic of her core pursuit to pierce beyond the illusory veils of the material world while paradoxically being dependent upon reality for drawing imagery to provide intimations of the “Beyond.”

A non-denominational devotional poet with fervent pantheistic longings, Raccioppi’s metaphors and unpretentious affirmations appeal directly to the heart. In this volume she creates a metaphysical poetry and is content to take her simple Shelleyan imagery wherever she finds it within nature’s bounty.

The Wind and the Willow consists mostly of brief meditations and what Raccioppi calls “mindscapes” which constantly seek calming epiphanies of self-recognition in the fleeting moments, even in the midst of turbulent and painful experience. At her best, in works such as “This Night Knows No Sleep,” “This a Winter’s Night,” “Away You Fly,” “Descent No More,” “But Can I Share,” “The Wind and the Willow,” “Swaddling Divine,” and “Now and Ever Blessed,” Raccioppi attains perceptual clarity and an incantatory music that might remind readers, by turns, of Henry Vaughan’s devotional lyrics, Walt Whitman’s celebrations of the unbridled Self, the near-improvisatory freshness of D.H. Lawrence’s “Pansies,” and William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence.” This is poetry that is designed to reach a broad audience.

John Ballard

Available at Barnes and Noble and online booksellers nationally and internationally.
Pub. Date: June 2008
ISBN-13: 9781604744545

Special Announcement:
THE WIND AND THE WILLOW
Now available in hardcover and softcover directly from Publish America.
Click on title, place title in search bar of Publish America Entry Page.
Thank you for your order.
ENJOY!

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.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


And now it is late afternoon this very day

Perceived joy in this moment real
A sense of oneness I shall not conceal
The lilting exuberance, the embracing calm
Life in all its blossoming, its abundance, its wondrous charm
This moment barren of loss, fear, regret or sorrow
Holds the promise of BEING, this moment, this hour, this day, a tomorrow
This spirit, this soul, this life bequeathed to me
Ever was, ever is and ever shall BE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Awakened

Swaddled
in the warmth
of summer night
Crickets calling
to the silence
Stars
and wisps of white
don the sky
The light
of the crescent moon
dispels the darkness
And I
awakened to behold.

Rose Marie Raccioppi


Night Journey, Watercolor, Rose Marie Raccioppi, http://www.apogeeart.com


Special Announcement:
THE WIND AND THE WILLOW
Now available in hardcover and softcover directly from Publish America.
Click on title, place title in search bar of Publish America Entry Page.
Thank you for your order.
ENJOY!

This Night That Knows No Sleep

Held within the deep darkness
Cast of black stroked by magenta
Touched by the warm and wet air
The breadth of silence in hushed refrain
Suspended in the eternal womb of time
This night that knows no sleep
Within the black shadows of the trees
Below the darkened magenta sky
Grass wet cool green new below my feet
The feel of the warm whispering stillness
This night that knows no sleep.

Rose Marie Raccioppi



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

This Night That Knows No Sleep, THE WIND AND THE WILLOW, Publish America, June, 2008.

Is It as It Seems

Impressions and dreams
Is it as it seems
Perception and thought
What illusion have I brought
To this life and soul of mine
In this moment of past and present time
What am I yet blinded to see
That is deep within me
Shed these illusions that bind and hold
Free the pain and memories of old
This moment innocent of each yesterday
Revels and sparks life’s miraculous way.

Rose Marie Raccioppi



Is it as It Seems, Rose Marie Raccioppi, THE WIND AND THE WILLOW, Publish America, 2008

Lady Lilith, 1866-68 (altered 1872-73), Oil on canvas, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1828-1882, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, Delaware.

In Celebration of National Poetry Month

In Celebration of National Poetry Month

the public is invited
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM
Tappan Library
93 Main Street Tappan, NY 10983

Rose Marie Raccioppi

will be presenting an exhibit of her watercolors
a poetry reading and book signing of her collection of poems

THE WIND AND THE WILLOW


Rose Marie Raccioppi is an exhibiting artist, acclaimed published poet, and an award winning and honored master educator, child advocate, and activist.

Phone: 845-359-3877
For more information please ask for Jill Gross: e-mail jgross@rcls.org

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.

Rose Marie Raccioppi



THE WIND AND THE WILLOW, Rose Marie Raccioppi, Publish America, 2008.

Solitude

Solitude, this quiet of God's grace
These echoes of thought
The resounding stillness of soul
The gathering of time
The heart now known
Within this silence, the Word
Within this darkness, the vision
Within this chamber of God I dwell.

Rose Marie Raccioppi



Solitude, THE WIND AND THE WILLOW, Rose Marie Raccioppi, Publish America, 2008


Solitude, Lord Frederic Leighton, English, 1830-1896, Oil on canvas, c. 1890, Maryhill Museum of Art Washington, USA