"Let all your things be done in Love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)
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Introduction:

My photo
Current: Danbury, CT, United States
Welcome! A few years ago, I discovered an application that artists employ in their works to bring cultural awareness to their audiences. Having discerned this semiotic theory that applies to literature, music, art, film, and the media, I have devoted the blog,Theory of Iconic Realism to explore this theory. The link to the publisher of my book is below. If you or your university would like a copy of this book for your library or if you would like to review it for a scholarly journal, please contact the Edwin Mellen Press at the link listed below. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Announcements

I will present or have presented research on Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan) or my semiotic theory of iconic realism at the following location(s):

2026: I will be researching and writing my third book on iconic realism.

November 2025: New England Regional Conference for Irish Studies, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, "Sociolinguistic Evidence in James Joyce’s Ulysses: The Use of Language to Express the Semiotic Theory of Iconic Realism"

April 2022: American Conference for Irish Studies, virtual event: (This paper did not discuss Sydney Owenson.) "It’s in the Air: James Joyce’s Demonstration of Cognitive Dissonance through Iconic Realism in His Novel, Ulysses"

October, 2021: Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT: "Sydney Owenson’s use of sociolinguistics and iconic realism to defend marginalized communities in 19th century Ireland"

March, 2021: Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, North Carolina: "Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan): A Nineteenth Century Advocate for Positive Change through Creative Vision"

October, 2019: Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts: "A Declaration of Independence: Dissolving Sociolinguistic Borders in the Literature of Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan)"

03 December, 2024

A Day with Wintry Trees

This poem is from a collection of my 'One Line Poem of the Day' entries from Facebook over the past few winters. It has become a brief narrative that describes one full wintry day. 




I took these photos in Danbury, Connecticut.

A Day with Wintry Trees

As morning sun
awakens each snowflake
adorning bare limbs,
and trees sigh
in serenity's brilliance,
one last, gold leaf glistens
in the snowy shower
when a brisk wind
draws its stem from a tree,
and in this release,
the leaf tumbles
in a dance of jubilation.

This leaf drifts to the ground,
and the tree,
now naked and sparkling
in the sun's warmth,
stands tall and ready
to accept its wintry destiny.

**************************

Golden sun illumines
the end of this day.
Behind striated clouds
of pink and orange,
an aqua sky enhances
the illumination
as dancing branches rattle,
yielding to the variant wind.

She breathes in the song
of this winter night
and surrenders to its peace,
lets the brisk, fresh air
fill her smile, for she sees
the tiny footprints of animals
braver than she,
leading to the tree's hollow.
Nurtured by the moon’s iridescence 
and a dominion of love,
they snuggle 
within a newly fallen leaf.

***************************

Evergreens mingle
with snow-kissed branches.
The canopy opens
to welcome a thousand stars
spread across the midnight sky,
and under their distant radiance,
she whispers, “Humbly, I adore Thee.” 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos  

You can hear me recite this poem by clicking HERE.

08 November, 2024

America's Common Truth



America's Common Truth

The future of America
is in the hands
of those who
love liberty
 live in truth
seek justice
amid hope
in a future
determined
by 
responsibility
knowledge
inspiration 
 common sense
and most importantly,
God's Will.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

You can hear my reading of this poem by clicking HERE.



07 November, 2024

Could

Once upon a time, through the group activity, Poetry Jam, Chris of the Enchanted Oak asked us to partake in a little ekphrasis by means of writing a poem inspired by the classic photograph below. I wrote the entry, entitled "Could."

 photo from Flicker common photos

Could

I could be gone to pursue my dreams,
grow in knowledge and creative thought
to share my ideas with those who care.

That man over there could be quite nice
with smiles, teasing, and sexy lust;
our foreplay could lead to ecstatic love.

He could be thinking of me and I of him.
We both could be subject to fetters of love
that bind our hearts, never to release.

However... now I see; His brilliance shines within
our life's journey, and our hearts forever linger
in this Blessing of Tranquility.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

06 November, 2024

Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, the 47th President of the United States

photo from Google Images

Donald J. Trump has now collected the number of votes to be officially elected by the Electoral College as the 
47th President of the United States. 

It's time to .....

Make America great again!


23 October, 2024

The Revolutionary Rhetoric of Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan)



My collection of books written by Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan)

From page 17 of my book: 

Revolutionary philosophy of the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries provides momentum for the transformation of consciousness, circuitous pathways of innovation and circularity within societal parameters, creating awareness of cultural change, often through literary articulation. During the long eighteenth century, Sydney Owenson constructs her national tales by configuring lexical combinations of Irish, English and European colloquialisms, drawing upon the historical and philosophical perceptions of René Descartes, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant to transform her romantic tales into narratives of political inquiry. She incorporates the German philosophical influences of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Georg Wilhelm Friedriech Hegel, and Arthur Schopenhauer, initiating innovation in forms of cultural awareness. 

As her writing matures, her nineteenth century contemporary scientific approach to human dignity resonates with Auguste Comte’s philosophy, revealing her personal experience with societal expectations. Her voice maintains a necessary fortitude in terms of her feminine perspective, placing Irish ideology into the center of English culture at the onset of the Ascendancy, while she illustrates foresight in challenging the political stance of the United Kingdom in the early decades of the nineteenth century. 

19 October, 2024

God's Peace



God's Peace

On this sea of doubt, 
I long to sail away
with a guiding breeze 
of everlasting peace, 
Peace with God. 
Through the ebb and flow
of fervent prayer,
I find confidence  
as He moves my heart 
in the direction of Infinite Love,
magnifying Joy,
discerning 
His Divine purpose.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

15 October, 2024

Flow: "It Don't Mean a Thing..."


As I considered the music that this 'flow' poem describes, my first thoughts went to Beethoven's 9th. Then, I thought a little more and considered the jazz musical artists, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington as they collaborate to perform "It Don't Mean a Thing If it Ain't Got that Swing...."  I chose both. Click above to hear the jazz and/or Beethoven. 
Flow
Waves of sensuous melody
gently stroke the basilar.
The chamber of each hair cell
bursts with the flow
of pulsating charges
stimulating selected neurons
that stir the memory's charm.

Blood flows faster,
determined as voices surge
through the vibrating membrane.
Physical synchronizes
with emotional energy,
aching- soothing,
dissonance resolving
harmonies coalesce
in this resonating
flow. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos


(To hear my reading of this poem on Pod-omatic, click HERE.)

11 October, 2024

Aurora Borealis

When the local meteorologist suggested that we, in Connecticut, would be able to see the geomagnetic event, an Aurora Borealis, I thought, "Okay, I'll check it out." Well, I looked out my backdoor window, which faces northward, and there it was: a beautiful, pinkish maroon sky amidst the stars. My camera barely captured the view. This was exactly as I saw the sky in Connecticut:

Aurora in Western Connecticut, Oct. 10, 2024

Auroras in Pleasant Valley, New York, Oct. 10, 2024

Aurora Borealis

I search the evening sky to see

the stars staring back at me 

at their usual positions

in the heavenly firmament.

Then, my eyes, are they deceiving me? 

There it is... softest glow of pink and maroon,

enveloping a fluffy mass of light clouds.

It makes me wonder if another's eyes 

are viewing this heavenly sight,

a shared brilliance from stars and aurora.

I thank God for allowing me 

the glorious view of the rosy hue, 

this geomagnetic event:

Aurora Borealis. 

 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

 

09 October, 2024

Comfort is a Crackling Fire

My Fireplace 


Comfort is a Crackling Fire

Another one of those days!

But now she is home;
it would all be better.
Except it wouldn’t -
cold, ice cold, here, there.

Her thoughts darken:
nothing familiar about
their contrived 'door'
through which she’d never
be granted permission to enter.

So she lay down her head
weary of the insanity
surrounded by frigid cruelty.

Even her warm tears,
now icicles crudely formed,
dangle precariously
from her drifting mind.

The sound of the crackling fire
in the fireplace 
envelops her
as she sleeps to surrender.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 

22 September, 2024

Reach Defined

Years ago, the Poetry Bus had the delightful Ms. Poetikat as its driver. She discovered the photos below on Ms. Bug's blog and has asked us to view them as inspiration for our poetic contributions. This photo narrative reveals so much to us, but what has impressed me is the reaching aspect. I looked up the term, reaching, in the dictionary to see if there might be a definition that would 'reach' my psyche. Amazingly, right before my eyes, every definition seemed to express what I was feeling. And there you have it: Reach Defined.
Reach Defined

Approach the moment
in a state of mind
influence, power
communicate
strive
achieve
acquire success
lend a hand
 sail on a tack
 with the wind blowing
 reach defined,
refined
 for a television viewing audience

© Jeanne I. Lakatos
(with help from the
Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

18 September, 2024

Troubadours of Truth

A small group of my colleagues and I would meet occasionally to let off a little steam. We called it the Meeting of the Minds, but I also like the term used here: Troubadours of Truth. We haven't met in a while now, but I think of these meetings with fondness. Enjoy!

Cheering with Irish Coffees at a local pub

Troubadours of Truth

We meet in various locales
far enough away from the others
who meet for what they think
are much more crucial causes.

At our 'meetings of the minds'
we pun and chortle, sip our drinks
and cheerfully lighten
our burdens of misanthropy
with stories that feed our souls.

Our meetings begin and end
with hugs and reassurance
that common sense is a reality,
if surveyed through the pane
of the Troubadours of Truth.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

23 August, 2024

Faith like a Rock (or Ode to a Friend)

Decades ago, I lived in Atlanta and received a letter from a friend who lived in my hometown in Michigan. She wrote to tell me that our mutual friend in Junior High School had committed suicide. We were all cheerleaders, and it was so sad to learn that this young girl came to such a sad ending. After praying, I wrote this poem, "Faith like a Rock (or Ode to a Friend)." Unfortunately, our friend ended up as a drifting river. 

Photo of a stream near my home with a small, gentle waterfall and many rocks

Faith like a Rock
(or Ode to a Friend)

So this is life ~
engulfing 
the sorrows and heartaches
of human weakness.
There are no tides without the ocean depths.
A tear can stroke my cheek,
but where is Faith?

The heart can contain emotions.
The soul can contain feelings.

A waterfall may flow forever, 
but without the steadfast Rock,
it is only a drifting river.
Each of us has a Rock
which harbors our heart. 
The stronger the Rock, 
the more tender the soul. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

17 August, 2024

Spin Cycle

With the topic of Confusion, I've chosen the metaphor of a washer because nothing creates a turn like a good spin cycle.  The reading of this poem has been posted on Podomatic. 
from Google images

Spin Cycle

Confusion
agitates in a murky froth
volleying my thoughts
back and forth, back and forth,
do or don't, can or can't, will or won't,
until remnants of every smear
swirl into a watery, soapy tuft.
Blended tones collide
to form mottled suds.
Cascading pools jostle
my consciousness;
a circular spin
wrings out the truth.
From this cycle
my mind turns, and 
I am cleansed.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 

Crickets in Love

Cherishing the final weeks of summer, below, is a little poem I wrote on the soothing sound of crickets in love under the moon's light. Enjoy! 



Crickets in Love

Suspended 
sound waves
fill the senses
echoing harmonics
soothe 
reverberate
through chambers
of hearts
pulsating rhythms
an intricate loving 
coalescence 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

from lifeandberyl.blogspot.com

16 August, 2024

Back to School (or) A New Box of Crayons

Many thoughts race through my head at this time of the year. One, in particular, is a memory of that brand new box of crayons (usually only the 24-crayon box) I would look forward to seeing in my clean book bag, so lovely and organized, ready for the new school year. One year, it was the 64-crayon box!  Hmmm... a childhood dilemma, which crayon shall I choose first? 



Back to School 
(or) 
A New Box of Crayons

There is nothing as sweet as the waxy aroma
of a brand new 64-count box of Crayola crayons
bought especially for that first day of school.
It has the crayon sharpener right on the box!
And oh, the most marvelous feeling:
sliding the very first crayon out of its sleeve.
Periwinkle Blue! Carnation Pink! Burnt Siena!

What does it mean, this lovely box of crayons?
Summer is over! Those lazy, creative days sitting
under the maple tree, dreaming of 'next school year'
are etched forever as summer childhood memories.
Those encouraging words from last June come alive. 
New: books, shoes, clothes, hope, friends! 
Old ones, too, but now with new stories to share. 

Early autumn, with its cool breezes, 
whisks colorful leaves that dance among fallen apples: 
Nature's own fresh box of crayons. 
Tossed with a sanguine force that energizes 
each step toward the school's front door,
kind smiles herald enlightenment 
radiating from a Teacher's welcoming heart.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos