"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 June, 2025

In God's Time

Photo taken in Danbury, Connecticut

In God's Time

Taking my time, 
moving through a daily routine, 
I've come to that moment 
when I become anxious 
for answers to questions unresolved. 

Then, a thought enters my mind, 
moves through me, and reaches my soul. 
It becomes a prayer, guiding me 
to these feelings of love, peace, joy
that encompass me. 

No longer am I filled with doubt, 
for purpose supplants ache, and now, 
I feel Divine Love open my heart with His aim 
on a path, carefully tread 
in God's Time.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

You can listen to me recite this verse in my 'froggy' January voice by clicking HERE.



27 June, 2025

Odes to Pancakes


Photo from 'Duck Duck Go' images

Below is a duet of poetry focusing on the pancake theme in the rondeau form and then a parody of e.e. cummings' poem, "O Sweet Spontaneous."

Ode to Pancake Temptation
There, on my fine bone china plate
Five pancakes can't be a mistake
and neighboring maple trees in a row
provide home grown syrup to amply flow,
as fresh, sweet butter on top does skate.

To eat this meal at such a rate
won’t help in my quest of losing weight
yet hunger’s there; it won’t let go
there, on my fine bone.

This morning sure has sealed my fate
through personal, philosophical debate
but now, determined to my pinky toe,
it's wisdom’s garden I must hoe,
and make these feet accelerate 
there, on my fine bone.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

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

O Sweet Pancake Temptation
(a parody of e.e. cummings' "O Sweet Spontaneous")

O golden pancakes
drip
               ping
with sweet syrup
extracted
from maple’s vein
and butter 
squeezed
from bovine's 
p
u
r
i
t
y.

Does humanity
know the 
sacrifice
from earth’s offerings
for gluttony’s
bliss?

My delight 
pours forth
dripping
                       sweet 
with
appreciation 
and a little
blueberry pancake guilt.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

26 June, 2025

Ugly Duckling's Pond

Years ago, Peadar's Poetry Jam prompt asked us to reveal an unknown from a fairy tale or myth. I chose one of my favorites, The Ugly Duckling's pond. 

Swans in East Lake, Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.A. 

Ugly Duckling’s Pond

Reeds sway
along the water’s edge,
 gentle waves
from graceful paddling
of a family of swans
lap up
heartbroken tears
as they embrace
the distorted reflections
of a duckling
furtive and yearning.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 

To hear me recite this, please click HERE

25 June, 2025

Be Leaf - Belief

An innovative idea is a call to action to make a difference in this world from a perspective of Love. A single leaf can be an example of a metaphor for the human condition. Since transformation originates from a single notion, I thought this little poem may contribute a genesis of belief.  

I took this photo in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland.


One maple tree leaf in my garden
 
Be Leaf 
Here
remains the leaf
not insignificant
silent, 
well formed
turned over and over.
Suspended,
it resides in belief
of the sublime reminder:
 the Journey of  Love
emanates, embraces,
 enwraps, ensues... 
in God's time.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos  

24 June, 2025

The Mill

Long ago, a friend told me about this beautiful mill, located in Floyd County, Virginia. I found a picture of it in a history book and saw the serene beauty of this sight, so I took out my oil paints and painted my own version of the mill: Mabry Mill is its name. Below are two photos. One is a photo from Google Images. The other is my painting of the lovely Mabry Mill in Floyd County, Virginia. The poem revolves around this stalwart mill.

The 'melodious Lark' in the poem refers to Ralph Vaughn Williams' masterpiece, The Lark Ascending. You can hear the lovely melody if you click HERE. 

Photo of Mabry Mill, Virginia
 from Google Images
 
My painting of Mabry Mill, Virginia
                                             

The Mill

Quietly and peaceful
 The Mill does stand
In harmony with God's land,
and in its tranquil solitude
the melodious Lark 
sings its sweet etude. 
All the while, 
the Mill in steady repose sings: 

"I'll be here
as long as the wind does carry
His song through the realms of time. 
I'll be here for you ~ 
My love will ne'er weary
for your spirit 
inspires
my Joy. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos


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

23 June, 2025

Finding the Way: A Revolution Within

                 
The pathway that I tread in Castleknock, Ireland 
from my hotel to the bus stop to catch the bus to Dublin.

Finding the Way

As we walk along life's path, 
eventually, we acknowledge
 that creative ground which supports our steps. 
Longing to find the way, 
we clear the path of debris, 
 as we accommodate His Divine footsteps
 that gently lead us forward.
 Fortitude emerges with the recognition
 that we have the power 
to
 adjust, adapt, attempt, achieve, affect.  
We evolve. 
We make a difference.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this verse, just click HERE.

22 June, 2025

Strength Within

Since transformation is part of my blog's title, I composed this villanelle, containing the poetic framework creating a linguistic form of life's ebb and flow. This poem's theme is that a loving, driving, force that emanates from the Divine, can bring a transforming strength, and I hope you enjoy it. 

Photo is of East Lake, Danbury, CT

Strength Within

Draw from Love that brings your verve its aim,
for gently comes the mission that will bring
the strength within that only you can name.

Your passion resonates hope; now proclaim
the song that desires your voice, and boldly sing.
Draw from Love that brings your verve its aim!

Intricacy builds clarity as the frame 
of delicately interlaced might, healing
the strength within that only you can name.
 
Travail with challenge evolves, as the game
of motivating resolve becomes your freeing.
Draw from Love that brings your verve its aim.

Benevolence and wonder: Adventure’s name
and yours when life moves on by loving
the strength within that only you can name.

Acknowledge from your heart that you can't tame
the Sacred Grace from unleashing torment’s cling.
Draw from Love that brings your verve its aim,
the strength within that only you can name.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this villanelle, please click HERE

21 June, 2025

The Slug: "Fortune Favors the Brave"


"Fortes fortuna iuvat!" 
(Fortune favors the brave!) 
~ Latin Proverb

Sometimes, with certain 'green-eyed' slugs, we have to take defensive action; other times, it pays simply to observe the power of Light. 


The Slug
Hypocritical green-eyed slug
compulsively feeds upon
the entrails of authenticity.

Vomiting truth along its way,
its impish, soul-less self
solely thrives on
cunning insults and ineptness.

It binges on fictional fervor
slinking in slimy skin,
 blinded by its own limitations.

It lurks about for its next victim
to entice with fabricated promises,
while other small, spineless creatures
easily fall prey to its ‘virtue.’

However...

 the Truth that this slug rejects
soon takes on a life of its own,
swirling through the air with sweet fragrance,
fusing with fortitude.

Yet still, slinking along, the slug
slowly attempts to cross my path…
I lift my elegant boot
to squish it! Squish it good!

Ah, but there's no need to squish,
for below me, I witness:
evaporating in the powerful Light,
slimy innards,
consumed
from their lack of substance. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this verse, please click HERE. 

20 June, 2025

On a Cashew Nut

Once, the Poetry Bus poetry group request for us was to write a poem on something on which we would normally not write... literally.

Well, that particular week, we had been having a100+º heat wave here in Connecticut, and my brain had definitely melted.... So, I took my teeny tiny 'PreciseV5' purple pen and wrote the following haiku on a cashew nut. Graffiti for ants! A fun activity! Here is the photo of my creative endeavor:


Cashew Haiku

On this nut I write
I, this nut, write on
cashew deliberation

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

19 June, 2025

Memory Sustained


I took the photograph whilst driving south of Dublin, lost and 'blind' to the correct pathway to a professional conference at I.A.D.T. in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. Thanks to a few kind gentlemen at Dunphey's Pub and their fine directions with a hand-drawn map, I was able to make it to the afternoon panel presentations. Having learned my lesson, the following day, I took the bus and presented my own paper on time. 

(I captured this church in the sunlight near Dun Laoghaire, Ireland.)

Memory Sustained 

A blinding moves her
to close the blind,
now shielded
from the brilliance

Outside-
The hour of dusk
palpitates
with a creative verve
releasing the gold

Within-
Shards of light
simply cannot blind,
for Memory sustains 
the weakest eye.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

To hear me recite this vers, please click HERE.

18 June, 2025

Upon listening to "Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis" by Ralph Vaughn-Williams

 

I took this photo of the moon in a cloudy sky, framed by the shadows of maple trees. 
The clouds seemed to form a landscape of their own. 

Click HERE to listen to the lovely, musical piece, "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis," performed in the Gloucester Cathedral, where Ralph Vaughn-Williams first performed it in 1910. 


I wrote the verse below upon listening to the above piece,
 composed by Ralph Vaughan-Williams.


Fantasia

Yearning for serenity,
an unsettled mind
drifts gracefully, 
flowing in paralysis,
a paradox offering
of a spiritual triad:
sweet malady
sweeter melody
sweetest memory.

A core surge 
caresses
in Divine rhythm.
Echoes...
from arched bones,
guarding this heart
in solemn surrender 
to stillness,
fill the repose  
with sweet assurance.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos


(To hear my reading of this poem, click HERE.)

17 June, 2025

My Hands, a poem

 "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." (Psalm 90:17)

Below is a poem with the theme of my use of hands, 
which some may think is archaic in this current era of technology:

Harp and me, one afternoon

My Hands

Turning 
weathered pages of a centuries old book,
my fingers touch a piece of history,
for this page was once turned by the fingertips
of a lady sitting by candlelight on a blue velvet chair,
her linen dress, flowing around covered ankles.
Strumming 
the strings of a vibrating harp, melodic echoes, soothe
the mind of my precious dog who lives to protect me
love me, comfort me. It's the least I can do for her.
Kneading 
dough that clings to each finger until I apply 
one more dash of flour to create 
the soft ball that will miraculously rise
to form into the sweet, aromatic sustenance of life: 
bread, feeding others with joy.
Threading 
a needle with just the right length and color 
of waxed cotton,
slowly I turn remnant pieces of cloth
into a quilted memory to comfort 
through the warmth of artistry and pragmatism.
Digging 
into rich, brown soil, I plant a seed
water, nurture, protect until one day it grows
into a savory food, the source of a satisfied smile.
Holding 
an extended hand, I feel the presence
of tender strength, our fingertips, touching,
Loving 
 brushing the tear from a dear one's eye
fond memory of the gentleness.
Praying
palm against palm, I sing a song of praise.
Humbly, I give thanks to Him,
Knowing 
His Love is undying, strengthening, 
guiding each step to fulfillment of 
His Purpose for me:
Living 
from heart to hand.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos


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

The Song - An Amhran

Below, I've posted a small poem that I wrote having taken a few Irish Gaeilge classes. I'm still not sure if the grammar is correct, but I think you'll get the idea anyway. I took the photograph just as I was leaving a conference at NUI Galway. I didn't know just how gorgeous the beach was until I was on my way out of town and passed this view heading out on my way to Sligo. 

         I took this photo of Galway Beach, Ireland.


The Song                                                       An Amhran

On the wind, the song sails              Ar na gaoth, an amhran ag sceoladh 
to another who will hear                  do an eile an té cloistrail
the sweet language that blesses.       an teanga binn ag beannú.
Gathering the creed of Love,           Ag bailigh an creid de Ghrá,
the song is forever,                           ta se an amhran go deo, 
sweet and praising.                           milis agus ag moladh.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos                          © Á Siobhán I. Glasaire

16 June, 2025

My Joycean Journey

Quite a few years ago, on June 17th, yes, the day after Bloomsday, I intended to attend a conference held on the IADT (Institute of Art Design and Technology) campus in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. Since I wasn't scheduled to present until the 19th, I thought I'd drive myself for the first day's activities. After carefully surveying maps and consulting Mapquest, I sat myself in the driver's seat and decided to drive myself. Since I'm left-handed, driving on the left side of the road comes naturally to me. I was set to go. FOUR HOURS later, I drove into the parking lot of IADT. The following days, I relied on the bus. 

Below is a photo I took whilst I was lost: 

Day After Bloomsday: 
My Own Odyssey in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

I pass by Davy Byrne's pub 
And think, “I must go there for a pint.”
It’s just off Grafton Street, ye know. 
And there’s the Ormond Hotel (Sirens chapter) 
But I must get on the M-50 to Dun Laoghaire.
It’s now 9:30. 

I get off the M-50 and drive along the highway,
I go through a town and find another highway.
Water is to my left. So beautiful! 
I take a picture and miss my turn.
So I ask for directions from a lovely garda. 
“Oh, I know exactly where ye want to go. 
I used to pick mushrooms there 
when I was a boy. Shame what they’ve done
To that land now. A real shame. It’ll take you
no time at all to get there.”
I follow his directions to the T…
And end up at the Martello tower.
The Coast Guard tell me I’m almost there.
10:30 I missed the first panels.

I drive around Sandycove 
And around Sandycove
And around Sandycove 
And around.... well, you get the picture...
I see cliffs in the distance. I want to jump….
End up back in City Center Dublin!
I pass the Gardai station again
in Dun Laoghaire... and keep driving.
Eventually,
I see a little red pub: Dunpheys Pub
1:00 (I’ve missed Lunch.) 

I beg them to tell me where IADT is. 
“I’ve heard there’s a blue, boxy building,” sigh I. 
One kind gentleman says to another,
“Oh, I know where that is. 
Tom’s son goes there. 
Here, let me draw you a map.”
He proceeds to draw each traffic light, 
And tells me which lane to drive in.
I make it! Just in time for the 2:00 panel. 

When I return to my hotel room,
An email awaits me from my friend,
“Jeanne,” he says, “You MUST go to 
Davy Byrne’s pub, the Martello Tower,
(Opening Ithaca chapter-
where Buck Mulligan descends the stairwell.) 
Sandycove, the cliffs of Killiney… 
That’s real Joyce country.” 
I smile as my keys click the reply… 
Been there, done that. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 

Media Arts Building, IADT, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, where mushrooms once grew.

15 June, 2025

Memories of My Dad

August 20 would be my Dad's 99th birthday. May he rest in Eternal Peace. A few years ago, I participated in a literary challenge to write about our fathers. This is not a poem; it's a reflection of the time that my father brought me some Siberian iris tubers, and each year, I feel his presence as the irises propagate annually. The ones in the photo are from this year's blooms. 


Blue Iris:
A Reflection of my Dad

I didn’t realize it would be the final kiss on his dimpled cheek, that the irises he brought would be his last gift to me. “They’re blue, like your eyes, and they have your name,” he winks as he carefully unwraps the newspaper and inspects each delicate tuber. 

Thinking back as if it were just yesterday…

* I was picking green apples in our backyard on a hot August afternoon. I glanced down to see my T-shirt covered with ants; I ran, screaming, “Daddy! Daddy!" Calmly, he brushed the ants off my shivering 4-year old self. “There, there, it’s nothing. See? All gone.”

* Glancing down at my hands now, I remember my little fingers clinging tightly to the rim of the old green wheelbarrow, as I sit atop a pile of fresh grass clippings, inhaling the sweetness. My own dimpled smile reflects his as he merrily sings or whistles a variety of tunes.

* His lap is the best seat in the house while we watch the Tigers defeat any other team on T.V.

* As a sophomore in high school, I can still hear his lighter click as he inhales yet another Lucky Strike and sketches lines and digits. Then, my Dad, the chemist, patiently explains one more geometry theorem to me for the night.

* Purple heart, bronze star, and a battle wound scar in his leg from the Battle of the Bulge that never kept him from running with the ball during many a neighborhood baseball game or a quick game of handball with my Mom.

Once, he brought a spray of blue Siberian irises for me to plant in my garden. There, outside my window grows a sea of blue, each year more irises than the year before, winking at me. 

                                                                Thanks, Dad. I love you. 

My Dad as a young boy with his dog, Snowball.
Be sure to save and label old photos. 


                                                                   © Jeanne I. Lakatos