Boffin

Today's word is "Boffin" ... A scientist or technical expert.

Hours
Trapped inside by snow,
Even a bookish boffin
Could go stir crazy.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Sessile

Today's word is "sissile" ... Permanently attached; not freely moving.

Above
I've seen the high flyers,
Flush with success or brillance,
Everything going their way,
Not frozen in sissile commonness,
Free to believe in their futures.
Until something happens.
Sooner or later. And then all
The money and fame and flattery,
Become as dust. Because there
Was never really anything
There in the first place.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Ugsome

Today's word is "ugsome" ... Adjective. horrid; loathsome.

Growl
Lurking on the corner,
Hiding by the stairs,
All the ugsome monsters,
Creeping here and there.

Better get your flashlight,
Better find your shoes,
Do your exercises,
In case you get bad news.

Remember you are stronger,
Remember you are smart,
Don't be afraid to fight them,
With bravery and heart.

Then you'll see them run away,
Then you'll see them cry,
And you will be the winner,
Just because you tried!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Riposte

Today's word is "riposte" ... A quick effective reply by word or act.

Learn
In the university,
There is much to do and see,
All the knowledge of the world,
Around and through your head may swirl.

If you think a certain way,
And a repost can quickly say,
You'll fit right in with all the rest,
Who vie to see who is the best.

But if you don't fall right into line,
And cannot the highest things devine,
Your road might be rockier than most,
Then in what knowing will you boast?

Think of this then, if you will,
School doesn't necessarily instill,
Truth or wisdom which will show,
How you should in your life go.

So find the direction that you need,
In God's own scriptures and the creeds,
The hymns and sermons of the saints,
This, you with wisdom will acquaint.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Squib

Today's word is "squib" ... A short and witty or sarcastic saying or writing.

Smart
Who can count the stars or knows
for sure how this universe began? What
brilliant squib written by us mortals can
be taken for the truth? And how would
we know anyway? Sometimes, I think,
a little trust is what is more important.
Trust that there is faith and reason and
reason for them both. Without that
small concession to sanity, I for
one could not go on.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Boite

Today's word is "boîte" ... A nightclub; Cabaret.

Hobble
Walking. Wounded. Looking for respite.
Where do you go? What will do the trick?
A book or movie? A new TV. series, restaurant or boîte
sparkling in the dark night? Perhaps a job or hobby or game.
Maybe coffee with friends, a new hairstyle
or athletic challenge. An exotic vacation ...
But then you come back home. And the
questions start all over again. What. Why. How.
Faced with ourselves there really is nowhere to
hide. Sooner or later, faced with ourselves, the need for
something larger always surfaces. Who or what
that might be, may be the reason
for our uneasiness.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Pettifogging

Today's word is "pettifogging" ... Insignificant; petty.

Throw
They stood with rocked hands,
ready to cleanse the world.
Their pettifogged minds filled
with the horrendous details of her sin.
They stood ready with their righteousness
on display. They had. All the facts.
And they squared with the law. And
the rightness of their stance glowed
in their faces. And shined from their eyes.
She was a blight upon them all. And she would pay.
The momentum of their God-blessed arms
only came to a halt. At the embarrassment. That they
were. Exactly. Like her.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Banal

Today's word is "banal" ... Devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite: a banal and sophomoric treatment of courage on the frontier. (Dictionary.com)

Nothing
An Ecclesiastes moment.
Nothing new under the sun.
Vanity everywhere you look.

What possible meaning is there?
Wake up, work, sleep. Do it again.
Why? Everyday the same banality.

Unless there's something else.
Something more. Something that
makes everything else make sense.

If that was true. Well then, when
the sun came up, there would be
purpose ... and hope.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Aphesis

Today's word is "aphesis" ...  Historical Linguistics.  the disappearance or loss of an unstressed initial
vowel or syllable, as in the formation of the word slant from aslant.  

Question
Without a clue they wander,
under the influence of their own ideas,
hoping to figure out what the point
of their lives could be. They have no
need of sage advice or others experience.
The mere thought that God might be
involved is an impossibility. So their
characters become formed partially,
like a word suffering aphesis.
If a humbling event should occur,
all bets would be off, and all
options immediately explored.
Why they wait is the question.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Idem

Today's word is "idem" ... The same as previously given or mentioned.

Do Be Do
Between the understanding and the doing
Of a thing, there may be a cavern wide,
Where great quantities of knowledge,
Lead you unhappily to pride.

Though you know the difference between ibid
And idem, or can add a giant sum,
If you can't write, or checkbook balance,
You may just come undone.

In matters more important, like faith in a
Good God; we see the narrow way we walk,
Acted out in graceful mercy,
Not through educated talk.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Williwaw

Today's word is "williwaw" ... A violent squall that blows in near-polar latitudes, Strait of Magellan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands.

Shhhh
What if we're paying attention to
non-essential things? Gossip.
The weather. Technology. Film
awards. The news coming in
every moment like a williwaw ...
not to be ignored. We like explosions,
and crashes. Drama in all its forms.
But what if we're missing the
greatest drama of them all? Played out,
in, around and through our quiet
moments. Breathed by spirit.
Quieted by love. Romanced by
resurrection. Given for our benefit
by a hand unseen.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Perspicuous

Today's word is "perspicuous" (per-SPIK-yoo-uhs) ... Clearly expressed or presented; lucid.

Speak
Some people tell stories.
About where they're going and
where they've been. To whom
they've spoken and what was said.
About what they had for lunch. And
what time they awoke ...
the bare bones of being.

But there are other sorts of tales.
The kind that change men's souls.
The kind told so perspicuously
they can never be forgotten.

Whoever tells those tales
will be renowned. But not
necessarily appreciated. The
hearers however, will find
themselves in a predicament.
Faced with a choice that
might change everything.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Bosky

Today's word is "bosky" ... Covered with bushes, shrubs and small trees.

Show
Like a black and white photo,
faded shades of grey ooze
down the bosky hills. Snow
prizims tree fingers reaching
out and up, grasping at the
thin air for a handhold. If
you hold very still, you may
see a flutter, there! Or there!
Color on the move! A flick of
red, or blue or orange. Don't blink!
The wooded hills hold secret life.
It will be revealed to the patient
ones who wait ... breath held
in astonishment.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Litigious

Today's word is "litigious" (li-TIJ-uhs) ... inclined to dispute or disagree; argumentative.

Justice

Does it seem to be to you,

That what people often do,

When things just don't go their way,

Is to get mad and blame and say,

"The other guy's the one that strayed!"

"It's not my fault. I was right.

I'm not the one that wants to fight!"

"But he said ... Then this is what she did"

"I'm not the one that popped my lid!
I want to to do what you forbid!"

In this litigious frame of mind,
No one ends up feeling kind,
And so can't find a simple fix,
'Cause everything is in the mix,
Wounded emotions; foolish tricks.

It would be easy to give advice,
And tell them all to please be nice,
But if the tone was wrong or loud,
They might assume that you were proud,
So it's best not to speak those thoughts out loud!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Misology

Today's word is "misology" ... Mistrust or hatred of reasoning.

Conversation
They're talking on the radio, the T.V.,
in the cafe and town square. They have their
facts and figures. Whys and wherefores.
Reasons enough to go around the earth
and back again.

It all sounds good. Right. Reasonable.
And yet ... Every argument cannot be
true. The law of non-contradiction,
and all that.

Have we become misologist enough
to believe that no one holds a key
to all this mystery? That no person, book,
or witness can wrap us in the delightful
web of stories rightly told?

Or is it possible that the flutter we feel
at the sight of beauty, or a deed of kindness done
is really all we need to know.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Echt

Today's word is "echt" ... real; authentic; genuine.

Talk
Some sort of snake. "Echt story,"
he said. "Trust me," he said. "I know
things," he said. And they looked
right into his snakey eyes, and said,
"Hand me that fruit, please."

So easy on the ears; such a smooth
sound. So inspiring, and hopeful. So
very convincingly voiced. (That forked
tongue was a little strange though.)

And they listened, and ate, and fell.
But they did not become like God.
In fact, ever after they wondered what
happened. And why it was so
difficult to become they people
they always dreamed they could be.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Hornswoggle

Today's word is "hornswoggle" ... To swindle, cheat, hoodwink or hoax.

Trickery
For a day I thought that spring had sprung.
Turns out I was hornswoggled by a lull
in the snow and the sleet and the rain
and the wind. So sad. This land with
with no sun. There's barely any light
at all. I should be forgiven for
hoping that I'd seen the
beginning of something
beautiful.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Antebellum

Today's word is "antebellum" ... Before or existing before a war, especially the American Civil War.
"We do well to think of the long tomorrow." A.W. Tozer

Results
The mores and morals of this age,
Are hard to comprehend,
Things once for granted taken,
Are thrown away instead.

Like antebellum mansions,
Gone with the winds of time,
It seems that mere propriety's
Not desired, not devine.

Commandments from the mountained heights,
Have fallen out of favor,
And whatever's easiest,
Is what the masses favor.

The narrow road is difficult,
For most to travel on,
Rewards are not spontaneous,
And so are frowned upon.

Besides, who's watching anyway,
And whatever does it matter,
If we spurn those ancient rules,
To get what we are after?

But, you see, the law of consequence,
Has not had enough time,
To work out how this all will end,
With dark and fiercest sign.

The yin and yang, the push and pull,
The light and dark contest,
And in the end, the one most bright,
Will be the one that bests.

So, carefully through all your life,
Choose which God you're going to follow,
For as sure as night breaks into dawn,
You're choosing your tomorrows.


Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Infinitesimal

Today's word is "infinitesimal" ... Indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute.

Possible
It seems that evil has the upper hand,
That what has been will always be..
Darkness overcoming light, as it
Has, since the expulsion from the garden.

Except that at a central point in time,
A man walked from an empty tomb,
Confusing all the forces that had
Put him there, certain of their victory.

And now we are charged to work,
In that most infinitesimal light,
Until it multiplies, and overwhelms
All false shadows with its truth.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Hurdy-gurdy

Today's word is "hurdy-gurdy" ... A barrel organ or similar musical instrument.

Reveal
"What you see is what you get,"
At least that's what they say,
(The "they" that is responsible,
For sayings, by the way.)

As if there are those in this dear world,
Who are constant, tried, and true,
Who are only one, thin, layer deep,
Whose minds are never new.

As if to the music in their ears,
They'll always be in tune,
That the hurdy-gurdy's all they hear,
All that will ever make them swoon.

I like to think it means instead,
Your attention will decide,
What thoughts you carry in your head,
And on which truths you can rely.

If behind each bush and tree,
You're sure fierce danger hides,
The thing you fear ... the thing you see,
Will in your circumstance reside.

But if instead you search around,
For peace and hope and love,
The God of all will sure be found
Descending like a dove.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Mot

Today's word is "mot" ... A witty or pithy remark.

Tick
What can make time slow it's step?
Not a trick or tune or mot,
Not the turning of an eye that's blind ...
(that only makes it's speed increase).
Not running faster in pursuit. Or pretending
that it is not moving after all. But
sometimes, when you breathe most deeply,
and pay attention to the moment
in your hand, the seconds seem to
stop in place, awaiting
your next inhale.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Wamble

Today's word is "wamble" ... To move unsteadily.

Freeze
Now it's ice that's keeping us in,
We didn't expect it, but it's here again,
If we chance to go out, into the rain,
We'll wamble about or fall down in pain.

That's the problem with weather this time of year,
It starts out with snow, and hollers of cheer,
But then it deteriorates, making us sad,
Until we can't take it. And then we get mad!

So gritting our teeth, and scraping our cars,
We go to the store if it's not very far,
We know we'll endure and see flowers someday,
But we don't have to like it til it goes away.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Comport

Today's word is "comport" ... To bear or conduct (oneself); behave.

Know
All this holy business,
How do we know what's true?
From scholars bright and ancient scrolls,
Or from theories, new?

It seems we'd have a leg up,
If Greek and Hebrew we could read,
And comportment and experience,
Filled all inquiry's need.

But even with each fact researched,
Every parchment scrap in place,
And every witness verified,
We might need a little grace,

For within the common mystery,
A new world welcomed has begun,
To be seen with hearts wide open,
By those whose light comes from the Son.

Anne  Selleck
Copyright 2013

Welkin

Today's word is "welkin" ... the sky; the vault of heaven.

Vault
Higher than the welkin high,
Is the God to whom I cry,
In pain, in rage, in joy or gloom,
On city street or lonely room.

I know he hears us, in this world,
To him all secrets are unfurled.
With patience does he wait until,
We bring our hearts for him to fill.

Thus satisfied, we can go out,
Into the world with happy shout,
Proclaiming loud and long the glory,
Of his resurrected story.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Lea

Today's word is "Lea" ... A tract of open ground, especially grassland; meadow.

Lament
This cold could seep into your soul;
it is so heavy in its intent.
Water thrown to air becomes an instant,
crystalled cloud lost to a whirlwind.
Imagine what we would become
without our layered woolen warmth.

This is no time to be out upon the lea,
where mean winds circle, or to travel
carelessly about on gelid roads.
Indeed, it seems Mother Nature
would rather discipline than nurture ...
listening to her ragged breath is enough
to chase her children underground.

I wonder where the groundhog is
and if he'd condescend to emerge ...
to find his shadow gone. Maybe that small
hope of early spring would be enough
to give us courage, and we could
put an end to all our whimpering
and carry on.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Terminus

Today's word is "terminus" ... The end or extremity of anything.

Universe
Billions and billions of stars ...
or galaxies, I forget.
But I saw all of them,
from someone else's videoed
imagination. A circle in a circle.
A sphere in a sphere, in a sphere ...
and so on. With no terminus at
all. Unless you count the light
that is light from long ago.
Long, long ago. And yet,
beyond what we can see, or
map (the way we're wont to do),
there's more, and more, and more.
So much, so far, so impossibly far
away from this chair where I sit.
And breathe. And live. And wonder.
Why? And how? And who? Although
I have some ideas ... this is so beyond
all words that I think only
the Word could have
spoken it into being.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Cede

Today's word is "cede" ... To yield or formally surrender to another.

Choice
I heard an argument today,
Pitting materialism against God,
To determine if our origin's designed,
Or sprung from primordial soup and sod.

The boy said everything was chance,
Nature, nurtured molecules,
Anyone who'd disagree with him,
Would surely be a fool.

So the teacher asked a question,
About the sureness of his fate,
Whether he could change his mind,
Or to a higher truth relate.

If it was possible to rise above
His tissued brain, and cede this point,
Then the determined state of things
Would sure be out of joint.

For when it comes to claiming truth,
Determinism must give way,
If you are your own all-in-all ...
That's all you'll have to say.

More mysterious things are stirring,
Than mere cells can comprehend,
As our beginning purposefully points,
To our story's lifeline and its end.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Skosh

Today's word is "skosh" ... A bit; a jot.

Answers
If I just knew more
Of how life works,
If only I was smarter,
If my imagination ran
In wider circles,
If only I could barter;
If only beauty was all mine,
And my teeth were straight,
If my parenting was perfect,
And I always could relate;
If I knew the ways of science,
And the ways of God,
And had the love of friend
And foe and could use a fishing rod;
If I was strong and fast and true
And could run a marathon, if
I could sing engagingly,
So that I'd be gazed upon;
If things came a skosh more easily,
And no doubts upon me called,
Then maybe I would fathom
The wheres and whys of all.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Delitescent

Today's word is "delitescent" ... Concealed; hidden; latent.

Long
Already, cold deep has appeared,
Here at the beginning of the year,
The wind is whistling hard and low,
And the delitescent moon has lost her glow.

The dark complete has overcome
What little light the snow has shunned,
Stars have dropped from sky's numb hand,
And birds quit their place in heaven's band.

A few long months 'till warmth returns,
As we, winter's bold advances spurn.
Until then we'll gather by the fire,
As we to friendship, love and peace aspire.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Punnet

Today's word is "punnet" ... A small container or basket for strawberries.

Reap
Everyday, into your head,
Unheeded, thoughts will steal,
Holding images of what you think's ahead,
Like punnets in a field.

If you just let them float on by,
And give them not a nod,
They'll disappear like smokey sighs,
And release their false facades.

Put then in place a word of hope,
A painting, dance or song,
Those are what will help you cope,
And your happiness prolong.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Inchoation

The first word of this new year is "inchoation" ... A beginning; origin.

Days
So many possibilities,
If will had its certain say,
Any could be chosen,
But it doesn't work that way.

Circumstances enter,
Turn your head around,
Sometimes stop you in your tracks,
No matter what you've found.

So, how to take each moment,
And move it into place,
Yet trust the Spirit's leading,
From inchoation on to grace.

In the mist of each new morning,
Dawning fresh and new,
Lies a whispered promise
That with faith, comes into view.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Sozzled

New Year's Eve's word is "sozzled" ... Drunk.

Becoming sozzled,
Is no way to welcome
The birth of a year!

Anne Selleck