This In Presentation... Camp Shanks Restoration Project, The Designation of Eagle Scout, Marco Amendola... IN VALOR...

In Valor

With Freedom's call, valor in praise be heard 

For the spoils of victory and liberation's word 

Hushed be the oppressive cry in anguish known

With Faith and noble deed in valor shown

This the dedication of those with freedom's vision held clear

Our gratitude to the sons and daughters whose sacrifices we ever to hold dear

It has been said no words can explain the wages of war we do spend

But for the freedoms and rights we are to defend

For those given to liberation and freedom's call

Blessed Be they who have given their All 

So let us with open hearts and grace

Live the divinity of gratitude within heart's place

Tears with loss of life we do shed and share

Yet know that in valor, souls soar high ever in God's embrace and care.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Camp Shanks Museum

Orangeburg, New York

La Republique...

The beauty, the artistry, the justice, 
the love of the FRENCH people 
will ever be Blessed... 

In prayerful devotion
PRAISE BE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Fall This Day in Tappan, New York...

Rain filled skies

Leaves in quiet repose

Hushed tones of gold and brown

The spoils of Fall to bless the ground.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

A YELLOW RIBBON

A Yellow Ribbon

The loss of a loved one ever so real

The pain, the lament, tears beyond conceal

The vision of rightful freedom held within heart

From which Veterans with valor do not depart

Many a war has time come to see

Ever held be the right to live free

This day in homage to lives now in heaven’s embrace

Each life, each memory within our hearts we place

And to those who serve may the vision be ever justly clear

YOU IN HONOR, for the freedoms you defend and hold dear 

Be it of gratitude and praise, a yellow ribbon upon a tree

For all that is given by so many that we may yet live free.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

The Yellow Ribbon across time: https://www.loc.gov/folklife/ribbons/ribbons.html

November's Story... setting, Tappan, New York...

Deep russet brown and touches of gold

This be November's story this day told

Glimmer of green

In grass be seen

As soft winds and setting light

Bring many a leaf to take to flight

Blanket of leaves cover the ground

Rustling be their special sound

'Tis a twilight moment gifted to me

This season of time from blessings BE.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Moment of FREEDOM ~ CANCER NO MORE...

Moment of FREEDOM, passion in expression, light and shadow in complement, strokes of color in rapturous gratitude… yes, the moment of CANCER NO MORE… This a painting that dons the entry wall of the APOGEE Acu-Tone™ Room. A welcoming to confront, to resolve, to the ultimate in wellbeing. The SELF in honor of SELF…

the body may be ravaged and feeling pain

yet there be a deeper knowing beyond the inane

the spirit holds to freedom and flight

passions yet to be expressed hold to the light

a palette of color and a canvas await

brush and strokes lay open a gate

oppression's daunting echoes silenced they be

when willful be the Spirit set free

'tis this moment of freedom that beckons and makes its call

and known be the guiding hand of the ALL.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Founder/Director

APOGEE Acu-Tone™

Moment of Freedom, Watercolor, APOGEE Art, Abstract, , ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, http://www.apogeeart.com

And so it IS...

The grace of time in seasons be known
Colors in brilliant array in October be shown
Such gems of beauty in leaves of gold
Alchemic be a story told
Ruby red and bright orange in lavish array
Divinity to paint the day.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Photo Credit: John Raheb, 2015.