LAKE COUNTY — The Charlotte Bronte novel “Jane Eyre” was published in London on this day in 1847, under the pen name Currer Bell.
Set in the first person, the novel is framed as an “autobiography” of its eponymous protagonist, following her from her stark childhood as an orphan into her tempestuous romance with the moody master of an English country estate.
Bronte once wrote that she and her sisters—both also accomplished authors—used pen names to conceal their genders, noting: “we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice; we had noticed how critics sometimes use for their chastisement the weapon of personality, and for their reward, a flattery, which is not true praise.”
Below are three poems written by local authors:
A beautiful rose
A rose that’s picked before it blooms will never ever survive.
But that beautiful flower in a vase makes you feel so alive.
Picked at its peak of scent, and petals soft as fleece.
But only for about a week, it makes a perfect center piece.
— Amy Goszulak-Zingone
Unveiling
Seductive temptress
Dancing in the autumn wind.
You tantalize the imagination
The watcher overflows with anticipation.
Oh, final vision of fireworks
How dare you adorn yourself
with such flaming colors,
and then manipulate the senses.
Notice:
This watcher is breathless with wonderment
as the ceremony begins —
Exposing first one naked limb,
and then another.
You provocative show off!
This watcher is mesmerized.
In slow deliberation,
with boldness you display
slow, purposeful undressing.
Truly!
The celestial fireball gazes
in envious bewilderment,
as your flaming colors
Tumble down the mountain.
Then stalking,
the intimate wind explores
your very essence —
searching.
Oh, treasure yet undiscovered,
Oh, stately statue
with limbs outstretched to the heavens,
What do you conceal from this watcher?
Oh mighty Oak!
— Judy Cardinale
Unplugged
I am a procrastinator
Didn’t buy a generator
Warming food in my refrigerator
No heat from my thermoregulator
Weatherman the prognosticator
Says wind will get an accelerator
PG&E the orchestrator
Some say the prestigitator
System needs a reinvigorator
— Roman Webber
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The Creative Expressions column is a space for local Lake County poets and writers to share their work with their community. Creative Expressions is supported by the Lake County Arts Council. For more information and to submit a poem or short piece of creative writing, email rvschmidt2@gmail.com.
