...pure delight...

click for larger view

Simply a pause... outside the local Whole Foods...

the tall grass in flutter be

as too, the leaves of the maple tree

sweet sounding of the warm soft wind I hear

and too, the song bird song lyrical and clear 

the bright warming sun upon my face

and I in this moment's grace

sky lambent a wondrous blue

the all of creation to embrace you 

the NOW in each breath known

creation's glory so lovingly shown.

Rose Marie Raccioppi 

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Simply at the Twilight Hour...

Twilight Hour

under my feet the grass so lush and green

feel I a gentle quiver 

be this the very breath of creation

a silent yet resounding PRESENCE

the twilight hour

the horizon in tones of magenta

a momentary magic 

strokes of gray

the day so willingly surrenders

the day so willingly surrenders.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetiwn, New York

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue - Leonard Bernstein, New York Philhar...

Feel the pulse, the drama, the visions, the echoes of NYC 
in a canvas of sounding rapture...

Rhapsody in Blue  

The Sounding City

The hum of cars, sounding horns

Tongues of many languages

Bright lights, fancy clothes

Saturday nights in memory

This Manhattan reverie

Rhapsody in Blue

The sound of feet on tenement steps

The radio heard from next door

This and eternal moments more

Rhapsody in Blue

The running of numbers

The shoe shine stand

Police car sirens

Dancehall music

Yes, New York City 

Be it in reflections ever grand

Rhapsody in Blue

A vision beyond the alley window

Beyond what the street life demands

Rhapsody in Blue.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

YES, this the early years growing up in New York City... 
Manhattan streets sounding ...

In the Garden

In the garden...

blooms in such winsome array

holding to the light of the dawning day

folds of color in majestic glory

be this, be this, Creation's story

beauty to behold in blooms divine

be this the gift of the NOW of time

in the garden heed I a beckoning call

celebrate, celebrate, the NOW of ALL.

Rose Marie Raccioppi 

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Photo: In the Garden, Collectible Clicks, ©Rose Marie Raccioppi, 2018.

Watchfires, Memorial Day, 2018

And so they burn… WATCHFIRES

“Since 1987, Rockland County’s Vietnam Veterans have come together to build such fires according to the military regulations and specifications of the 1700’s.

* Watchfires are built every year on May 30th, the traditional Memorial Day. They are lit at midnight and burn until dawn on Memorial Day, then refueled at dark and burn til midnight again. Veterans stand watch, changing shifts through the night, and day, and night, as they had a generation ago.”

—Vietnam Veterans of America, Rockland County’s Chapter

Pictured here, on the sidelines of this photo, is the: 
MONUMENT MARKS 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF CAMP SHANKS, WW II BASE LOCATED IN ROCKLAND COUNTY...

The inscription on the monument is the heartfelt poetic tribute to OUR VETERANS by Rose Marie Raccioppi, Poet Laureate, Orangetown, New York.

To Honor Those Who Lived a Cause

Flowers and flags in devoted array
A loving tribute in homage this day
To honor those who lived a cause
This moment, this day, and so a pause
Hearts and souls in valor known
Right Intention and devotion shown
Battlefields of victory and plight
Through all beheld freedom’s light
Answered they did to liberty’s plea
That freedom be held for a you, a me
Sons and daughters, husbands and wives
Children of purpose have given their lives
The breath of freedom an endowment divine
Bequeathed to life yours, life mine
With valor and sacrifice they gave
And embraced the call yet to be brave
In memorial and reverence gather we
For held be the right that we live free
Memory of each life gone never to fade
Live we life’s blessings for sacrifice made.


EVER SHALL WE REMEMBER … with a special dedication to Jerry Donnellan for his vision made real…

http://apogeepoet.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-monument-marks-70th-anniversary-of_8.html

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Memorial Day 2018

...and why a poet this day in Memorial Tribute...

…a day of reverence, respect, a salute...

a quiet certainty… words that call to the silence

words that pulse the heart

praise be an expressive joy

an embracing gratitude

ascension

the rising of spirit 

the glory, the glory of the WORD in Memorial Tribute

beyond lament there is love

beyond shadow there is light

beyond despair there is divinity

beyond dismay there is beauty

beyond death there is eternal life

Be this the freedoms cherished

The lives in valor dedicated

The sons, the daughters, in service 

The visions held for freedom

The loss of limb, of life

The willingness to confront

The heart held resolve

The heart held resolve

Its ever present pulsing quest

Humankind to live in liberation

To be freed of domination

To be freed of oppression

To be SELF in expression

This the silent yet resounding pledge

This the rising in defense

This the Veteran in knowing sacrifice 

'Tis the vision of freedom and valor within souls we hail

Homage, gratitude to Our Veterans ever, ever, to prevail

And as we look to vistas far and the heavens above

Our Veterans in the embrace, in the embrace of God’s love.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York