The Roscoe Free Library held a poetry plaque unveiling for “A Day Off” by Vern Francisco on Thursday, April 25.

Francisco is a longtime resident of Roscoe and is a Vietnam veteran. This unveiling was also the first in the series to commemorate the creative mind of a veteran.

Reading a few words that he’s prepared, he said that once you serve in combat and return home, you want to put it all behind you and try to forget about where you have been and what you have done.

“While I was there, I have seen many things that I don’t wish anyone to see,” Francisco poignantly admitted, “[And that] I have no desire to discuss.”

When he returned home, he said that he was lucky enough to suppress most of those memories for 50 years.

However, one day, something happened that triggered their return. It was then when he began writing poetry for the first time. He said it was never about being a great poet or something similar. Rather, being able to write his thoughts down on paper was a form of therapy for him.

“I enjoy writing and I expect to continue to do so,” said Francisco.

This poem is the fifth in a series of 14 as part of the Catskilled Poetry for Healing project by Dr. Sharon Kennedy-Nolle of the Sullivan County Poet Laureate.

The project, which is supported by a Mellon Foundation grant and funded by an American Academy of Poets Laureate fellowship, intends to employ poetry writing as a therapeutic tool to empower those impacted by the county’s mental health and drug use issues, as well as their families.

Francisco described the dedication of his poem as an “unexpected honor” and that he “never would have thought something like this would happen to me [him.]”

“This is not a poem I would’ve picked for the plaque but Sharon thought it was powerful,” said Francisco, “so who am I to argue with the Poet Laurete?” 

He explained that he saw a Poetry Class being offered by the Veteran Service Agency in Monticello. This class was being hosted by Nolle-Kennedy. He found it intriguing and thus, decided to sign up for the class. While he was there, he met “several interesting people.”

It was there Vern also learned about new types and styles of poetry.

He said that, if not for said class and Sharon herself, he would not have known about all the different poets he’s read while he was there.

“I think it was a great class,” explained Francisco. “I was impressed by Sharon.”

“With the instincts of an investigative reporter, Vern was a stickler for exact, full coverage of a story, sometimes at the expense of craft,” commented Nolle-Kennedy. “A perfectionist to the last, he must have negotiated at least 30 times with us over every detail of the powerful poem you [heard] today.”