La Fontaine Subé in Reims, France... "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):

2023-2025: I will be researching and writing my third book on 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)"

28 March, 2025

In Honor of Women and Music Day: BLISS is my word

Once, one of my professors asked our class to choose a word from Spenser's The Faerie Queene that particularly intrigued us. I chose the word, bliss. Below is a poem that explains my perspective of this word, for I thankfully pray for blessings received each day.


"Praise the Lord with the harp, make music to Him on the ten-string lyre. 
Sing to Him a new song, play skillfully and shout for joy." (Psalm 33: 2-3)

Bliss

In the Oxford English Dictionary
 resides the little word,
bliss
So many entries for this little word:
bless, blessed and even bleche!
Heavenly gifts 
juxtaposed 
with human expression.

We have the responsibility
to emulate higher levels of demeanor
to elevate awareness,
for each of us has been blessed
with gifts that enhance the living
presence surrounding us
moving humanity forward
in peaceful bliss.

My bliss originates 
in the glorious way 
we speak to one another.
I scrutinize others,
make mental notes 
of their paralanguage:
spiritual linguistics
where the core of truth 
generates the coexistence 
of benevolence and deceit: dissonance!

Sometimes, this confuses me…Bleche!
so I retreat 
to Prayer, the voice within, the Glor*
where music of eternal natural peace 
and soothing sound waves of passion
form consonant harmonies,
my personal bliss.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos    

*Glor: the Irish Gaeilge word for voice, sound

25 March, 2025

Gray Day

Today has been a cold, early Spring day, with rain, some snow mixed in, falling occasionally throughout the day. It looks like we'll be having a chilly Spring this year, but the plants, lakes, ponds, and waterfowl do need the rain, so it is welcome indeed. After finishing some daily tasks, I jotted down this verse. 

Gray Day

Awakening to a cold, gray day, 
a foggy, dreary one, 
I contemplate the daily tasks ahead.
Raindrops can't even decide if they want to
fall from the gray sky...or not. 
The lakes, ponds, and streams
have thirsty banks, 
and the Spring waterfowl 
need a place to swim, nest, live. 
So rain, come along now! 
Cold and distant as you are, 
you are greatly needed, 
and now, I welcome you.
I'll put on the tea kettle, 
make a warm supper, 
and when you're finished,
I'll take photos of the well-filled lake
with the sun reflecting its lovely glow
upon the deep waters. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this verse, please click HERE

21 March, 2025

Anaphora Poetry: For...Giveness

Below, is a poem written in the Anaphora poetic format, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of multiple lines, often in succession. I took the photo in Dublin at an international street vendor competition. Observing the interactions of the children with this 'angel' or 'fairy' was delightful.


For... Giveness

Given 
from the heart,
given with humility,
given freely,
this gift of joy
is a given 
that another will 
give,
passing the gift
forward.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this verse, please click HERE

18 March, 2025

Fiddlehead Feast

Here is a poem that I revised a bit on fiddlehead ferns, another group of plants that are harbingers of Spring. I included a recipe for Fiddlehead Quiche below the poem. Bon appetit!



photo from the front garden at my home

Fiddlehead Feast
Did you happen upon the fiddlehead fern
growing in the woodland mulch,
amidst the other springing buds
like skunk cabbage, crocus and such,
unfurling its primitive merit
with vitality richly designed?

Relentlessly, I search for the fiddlehead fern;
its presence seen, not much,
but then it boldly appears to me,
and I honorably prepare it to touch
my awaiting, salivating palate
that accepts its flavor divine!

What blissful company with which to dine:
this fiddlehead fern ~ a collation so fine!

 © Jeanne I. Lakatos  

To hear me recite this verse, please click HERE.  

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

YANKEE FIDDLEHEAD PIE (OR QUICHE)

Recipe by L.L. Bean Book of New England Cookery:
Serving Size : 8  

  4 Eggs
  1 c  Milk
  1 c  Fiddleheads, cooked, chopped
  2 Tbs Leeks -- chopped, cooked
  1 Tbs  Parsley, chopped -- or 2
  1 c  Cheddar cheese, mildly shredded
  Salt to taste
  1 Pie crust, partially baked, 9  or 10"
  8 Whole cooked fiddleheads

Beat the eggs with the milk until blended.  Fold in the chopped fiddleheads, leeks, and parsley, and half of the grated cheese. Season with salt to taste. Turn into the partially baked shell and sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Decorate the edge with whole fiddleheads.  Bake in a preheated 350 º oven for 40 minutes, or until set.  Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

14 March, 2025

Ode to Skunk Cabbage

The first day of Spring draws near, and I just had to submit this little ode to one of the harbingers of Spring, the Skunk Cabbage, as an illustration of the connection between artist and nature. 

                 Skunk Cabbage growing near my neighbor's pond and the flower from Google Images                                                            
Ode to Skunk Cabbage
Bursting forth from its ruddy milieu,      
it erects from its hooded spathe.
This courageous prophet boldly faces
the chilly air with unique confidence, 
guided by a mighty force.
Radiating silently, as if to say,
“Come to me, for I offer
the nourishment you need now,”
his sweetness within calls upon
the daring creature to receive its warmth.
And she responds, and she comes:
the beetle, the spider, the queen bee,
warmed by the generosity 
of Spring’s first.
Odiferous, proud, protective,
he inspires the fragrant flora
to engender beauty.
Now, Spring has arrived
with the burgeoning
of the exceptional skunk cabbage.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this verse, please click HERE.

13 March, 2025

Benoit Mandelbrot, the 'Father of Fractals'

Benoit Mandelbrot

Examples of Fractals (photos from Google Images)

Ever since I learned what fractals were, I've been absolutely fascinated with them. The man who brought us face to face with the beautiful link between mathematics, art, and nature through the fractal equation was Benoit Mandelbrot. Below is a link to an article about the former Yale University professor, Benoit Mandelbrot:


Also, below is a link to a lovely musical/artistic tribute to fractals:


05 March, 2025

Ash Wednesday

 


"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." 
(Ecclesiastes 3:20)