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)

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

August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Painting by Sir Peter Paul Rubens

1626

housed in the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. 

Blessed art thou among women, 

and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners, 

now and at the hour of our death. 

Amen.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, 

benedicta tu in mulieribus, 

et benedictus fructus ventris tui, lesus. 

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, 

nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. 

Amen

Memorial Day: Thomas Paine and Revolutionary Consciousness

In honor of Memorial Day, 

a day when we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 

from Google Images

     Thomas Paine derives his insight of revolutionary consciousness based on traditions and historical practices. In his pamphlet, Common Sense, directed toward the “American Inhabitants,” Thomas Paine describes monarchies in general in this fashion:

Male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth enquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind.

      Here, Paine empathizes with the common individual in his simple analysis of physical and moral distinctions of humanity, and he refers to the British aristocracy as “a new species.” He boldly reaches out to the consciousness of his readers, inspiring them to act on their natural right of the pursuit of happiness. In the words of Harvey Kaye, “As Paine saw it, American unity and vitality were themselves revolutionary imperatives - but not just for Americans” (65).

Kaye, Harvey. Thomas Paine and the Promise of America. New York: Hill & Wang,

2005.

A Blessed Thanksgiving to all!

Wishing anyone who reads this blog a Blessed Thanksgiving Day! 

(Click here to listen to the Thanksgiving Song, sung by Melinda Hawley.)

from Google Images

Mid-Summer Magic!

We are now in that dynamic aspect of the zodiac calendar known as Leo, which I am. Below is a little Southern recipe to quench your thirst. You need not add the bourbon if that’s not your cup of tea. ;)

Mint Julep Iced Tea

INGREDIENTS

8 mint leaves *

1 lemon, sliced *

1 lime, sliced *

1 cup bourbon

3 cups cold sweetened tea *

Cubed or crushed ice

* You can substitute Celestial Seasonings ‘Lemon Zinger’ tea, about 4 tea bags with 2 quarts of water in place of all these starred ingredients.

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine first 3 ingredients in a 2-quart pitcher, pressing with spoon to crush mint.

Stir in bourbon and tea. Add ice.  Makes 2 quarts.

My Poems/Flash Fiction : 

Fairy Dust

Outstretched limbs

intricately ethereal 

interlace

a renaissance 

instantly transform

momentarily suspend

reality and fantasy 

ferried 

dust to dust.

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

Tea Lights

The tea trickles

through my throat,

settles in, and I surrender.

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

The End of the Rainbow

It was a beautiful day, the kind when we loved to play outside all day long, imagining wonderful childhood scenarios of superheroes and lands conquered.

But today, we were on a mission to the Tile Man's house. Mom and Dad needed to buy new tiles.We all hopped in the car, sat in our designated seats, Dad at the wheel, cigarette lit. We were ready. Dad drove to a strange place, down a wooded lane to a quaint, pastel painted cottage. My siblings and I were instructed,"Play quietly in the yard, while we go inside and choose the tiles." 

Soon, the sunny day turned cloudy, and I was given the task of going inside to alert the adults that "It's going to rain." And it did. It poured. But... as suddenly as the rain began, it stopped. The sun blazed brighter than before. That's when we saw it! Suspended in mid-air, were glistening medallions, golden, sparkling, glimmering! "What is it?!" we implored. 

Dad's voice answered in amazement, "Well, I'll be... We've discovered the Pot of Gold! There must be a rainbow nearby."

"Oh, Daddy! Can we go out and grab some of the gold?"

"Naw... you have to let it stay right there."

Our young, believing eyes widened. Dad smiled and drove down the lane toward home, as we silently dreamed of the many ways we could use that magical gold. I turned to look out the back window to get one more glorious view. But all I saw was a row of tall, evergreen trees, dripping from a brief, summer shower and a mysterious mist wafting through their branches.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos