Two Hearts

Once, our poetry challenge was to write a wedding tribute. Since this week would've been my daughter's and son-in-law's anniversary had he not passed from physical illness as a result of working near burn pits in the middle east, I thought it would be appropriate to present this poem, which I've given to friends for special moments in their lives.

Photo: Dreamstime.com

Two Hearts

Two hearts entwine

through space and time,

sensing an epic in tandem,

each day to bring

a step toward a dream

of Love's

harmonic embrace.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

In Preparation for Life

Preparation for Life 

In preparation for this wonderful life

I wish to send to you 

a cup of gentle tidings

that will comfort through and through.

Remember your uniqueness,

that God's Blessings are in you,

and use those gifts to be the one

who uplifts humanity true. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

Wintry Beauty: "Do...do...do...Lookin' out my back door..." (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

photo by Jeanne

As Mark Twain once remarked, " In Connecticut, if you don't like the weather today, wait until tomorrow." Well, as forecasted, we received our little bit of January snow. Today... So beautiful with the sun making its sporadic appearance throughout the day. 

President Trump Inauguration

President Donald John Trump is sworn into office...again

His motto: "Make America great again." 

Congratulations, President Trump! 

God Bless America, and God Bless you and yours. 

Photo of President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump

Photo from DuckDuckGo Images

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

painting of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by William Rock, Chinese calligraphy by Huang Xiang

The significant "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is another illustration of iconic realism. From behind bars, King wrote this eloquent epistle, begun in the margins of discarded newspapers, then from a borrowed legal notepad. In this piece, he elaborately describes his educated and passionate belief in freedom of speech. Written in April, 1963, he had no access to a computer, nor spellcheck, yet his hand-written expression is clear, coherent, concise, and cohesive, utilizing classical rhetoric to elucidate for his audience the possibilities that could evolve from cultural reform.

Unfortunately, I can no longer post the entire document so that you can view the excellent rhetorical analysis of this letter, so I will only show you the first page below. It was downloaded from the following source: https://faculty.millikin.edu/~moconner/writing/king1a.html 

Winter's Winds Conquered

A Wintry East Lake, Danbury, Connecticut 

Winter's Winds Conquered

Winds from the North wail

as if they are reminding me 

of something I may have forgotten, 

like a friend in need, or items out of place

to which I should focus my attentions. 

The winds are relentless. 

Perhaps, they are telling me to be the same. 

Don't give up! It's all fine; have faith. 

My curiosity piqued, I lift my gaze

 to feel the Sun's warmth, strength, guidance.

So I make a pot of steaming beef stew 

with thick, rich gravy to warm me inside. 

Then, I whip up a batch of cornbread

of course, in my cast iron pot:

Vittles that warm the body, heart, and soul. 

Then, thoughts turn to you with your radiance:

warmth that still rivals the sun's glow, 

and I am at peace, smiling from memories,

the ones always embracing my heart, 

their fervent comfort conquering winter's bite.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

You can hear me recite this verse by clicking HERE. 

Epiphany!

"Life’s intermittent light

 shines 

through our souls, 

revealing the softness within, 

knowing that this gentle force 

originates from 

the intensity of hardship 

learned by living 

in the profusion of opportunity 

that surrounds us." 

~ from my operetta, Luminescence

© Jeanne I. Lakatos