Sunday, July 1, 2012

Sultan


Dearest Sultan,

Within

know I the echoes silent yet heard
within be the light of the Creator's WORD
beyond all shadows in TRUTH shall I prevail
BE this the vision beyond travail.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

The Window,  Photo: Sultan Khilji.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Awakened


day's awakening
eternal sunrise of soul
rejoice in glory.


gone the echoes and laments of days past
anew BE this mind, this heart, within soul cast
a child of the universe and Creation's grace
ever evolving within the depths of soul's place
confront and resolve be the calling command
within this faith held is libation's hand
nature's knowing and guidance true
life in new splendor brought on to you
shackled no more for I am free as the wind
silent no more for I am the thunderous storm
despairing no more for I am the dawning day
thirsty no more for I am lakes and rivers clear
lost no more for I am each guiding star
confined no more for I am vistas wide and far
hungry no more for I am bounty and harvest divine
this the awakened faith mine
the awakened
the awakened
the awakened faith mine. 


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Sunrise, photo, Flandrum Hill, Wordpress.


Thursday, June 28, 2012

...the pain is real... PTSD ~ Heed the cry...


PTSD ~ Heed the cry...

“Even though I knew they were just fireworks on the 4th of July, to me they still sounded like incoming mortars. It took me right back to my deployment…”

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.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


photo courtesy: http://thegallopingbeaver.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

...and so it is... Nature's Plan...


demanding are the many tasks at hand
a perception, a plan, action in command
intention and focus be the alert of the day
the gift of time and a knowing provide the way
how sweet when vision is newly held clear
when the din of despair is silenced and gone the fear
how comforting is this moment's embrace
when within heart, love the soul does place
how knowing is this Spirit's call
when resounding with the grace of ALL
the clamor and chaos hushed they be
heard be the song bird in the towering oak tree
and as I cast my sight to the lambent sky
feel I the beauty of the moving clouds up so high
the lithe bamboo touched by the south winds that blow
breath, faith, 'tis all that I need now know
the day by Nature's plan shall unfold
and I to be led by the Divine WORD ever told.



Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Lambent Sky, Photo, PFR, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.
click on image for a beautifully enlarged view

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The fear, the doubt, 'tis not your soul...


what be these lessons at hand
what is it that lies at heart's command
what TRUTH be masked by deception's call
what beckons from the spirit of ALL
what shadows upon light yet prevail
what is this din that echoes travail
the fear, the doubt, 'tis not your soul true
'tis but illusion cast upon you
deceit's binding cloak now to be ever shed
from TRUTH within soul let thee be led
beauty expressed in blessed word and artful deed
 YOU the light and power of TRUTH in living creed.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Written for an artist


Drapery study with pen and ink, The Erythraean Sibyl 1508-1509, Cappella Sistina Vatican,
 Michelangelo Buonarroti 1475-1564.




Saturday, June 16, 2012

Dulcinea ~ within this heart heard...




What moves this hand
Wherein lies its command
Strokes upon canvas white
Hold I to the perceived light
Color to embrace and enfold
A story within this silence told
Each stroke upon canvas to convey
What words alone are too pale to say
A palette of passion, colors of grace
Brush stroke by brush stroke, this knowing to embrace
Tones and shadings in reverence sublime
Imbued are we with gifts divine
A resounding call in heart be heard
Within be known the soulful WORD.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


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

Dulcinea from The Man of La Mancha



This song is sung by the Priest of the "middle level" of the play, where Cervantes is Alhonso Quiana who has come to believe that he is the knight Don Quixote and has devoted his life to justice in the lovely lady Dulcinea (who may only exist in his mind). The Priest is sympathetic to Quiana's state and sees both the comforts and the dangers of dedication to a dream. 

To each his Dulcinea ...

That he alone can name,
To each a secret hiding place:
Where he can find the haunting face --
To light his secret flame ...

For with his Dulcinea beside him so to stand,
A man can do quite anything:
Outfly the bird upon the wing --
Hold moonlight in his hand ...

Yet if you build your life on dreams,
It's prudent to recall:
A man with moonlight in his hands --
Has nothing there at all ...

There is no Dulcinea ...

She's made of flame and air,
And yet how lovely life would seem:
If every man could weave a dream --
To keep him from despair.

To each his Dulcinea ...
Though she's only flame and air ...


Lyrics by Joe Darion

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

...and so the rain... Clouds in Strokes of Gray


rain for many a day
clouds in strokes of gray
the light in glimmers prevail
to the blessings of rain we hail
blessed be fields of green and grain
gardens in bounty in bloom to claim
flowers be fruit in abundant yield
gifts of Creation upon garden, farm and field
rain for many a day
clouds in strokes of gray
the light in glimmers prevail
to the blessings of rain we hail.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

When the Sky is Gray, Watercolor, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2012.