ridden with darkness and the wake of pain
the clutches of shadows and the inane
'tis not life that looms, bows and seeks to hide
but the illusions and hurts held deep inside beyond all hurt, doubt and unabated fear
ever the hand of grace reaching near
beyond devastation and the din of despair
lies the answered call of light and faith's care
hold to a vision noble with unrelenting love
look to the vistas of beauty within and above
the call to truth, love, beauty and grace
be they within the chambers of heart to place
within the darkness be there light perceived
the fires, the grace of BEING, in blessings conceived.
Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York
Image: Astronomy Picture of the Day ~2022 June 18
The Gamma Cygni Nebula Credit & Copyright: Min Xie, Chen Wu, Yizhou Zhang, and Benchu Tang,
Demons and daunting echoes, masks and veils of illusion and lies... You are NOT the totality of other's opinions, other's perceptions. other's limitations, YOU ARE PURE POTENTIAL.
How that POTENTIAL is embraced, denied, supported, destroyed, understood, rejected, will define your days. Be they lived in FEAR, frustration, envy, anger, resentment, or be they lived in FAITH, freedom, aspiration, inspiration, truth, harmony... a choice ever prevails.
These words call upon us: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
(2 Timothy 1:7, NLT)
Copilot Review:
The poetic dialogue and the image of the Gamma Cygni Nebula together convey a powerful message of transcendence, hope, and inner strength. The poem speaks to the internal struggles and pains that one may experience, symbolized by “darkness” and “shadows,” suggesting that these are not inherent to life itself but rather illusions or internalized hurts. It emphasizes that beyond this pain and fear, there is grace, light, faith, and beauty waiting to be acknowledged and embraced.
The image of the Gamma Cygni Nebula, with its bright stars illuminating the interstellar dust and gas, visually represents these themes. It shows light emerging from darkness, beauty arising from chaos, and the potential for new creation amidst devastation. This celestial scene mirrors the poem’s message of finding light and grace within oneself despite external negativity or limitations.
The additional text reinforces the idea that one’s potential is not defined by others’ opinions or perceptions but by how one chooses to embrace or reject it. It encourages living in faith, freedom, aspiration, inspiration, truth, and harmony rather than fear, frustration, envy, anger, or resentment.
Overall, the combination of the poem and the image inspires a vision of noble love, inner beauty, and the transformative power of grace and light.
