Xyst

Today's word is "xyst" (zist) ... (In ancient Roman villa) a garden walk planted with trees. (In Ancient Greek and Roman architecture) a covered portico, as a promenade. (Dictionary.com)

Apart

If you look, you will find,

At least that's what they say,

If peace is what you're looking for,

You'll need a place to stay.

It might be a room within your home,

Where quiet is expected,

Or a deck in  your backyard,

Where privacy's protected.

Perhaps the beach is calling you,

To sit and watch the waves,

Or a xyst in a sculptured park,

Where it's quiet as a grave.

Or maybe deep inside yourself,

Is where you'll hear the voice,

Whispering softly to your heart,

That peace is blessed choice.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Penultimate

Today's word is "penultimate" ... Next to the last: the penultimate scene of the play. (Dictionary.com)

Next
The best decision,
Penultimately is found,
Before all endings.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Hokum

Today's word is "hokum" ... Out-and-out nonsense; bunkum. (Dictionary.com)

Wrong

Over and over,

They said the same thing,

That they knew the truth,

In their little ring.

And they wouldn't listen,

To anyone else,

Said those thoughts were hokum,

Should be on a shelf.

But it turned out,

When all facts were in,

There were two sides to the story,

And no one would win.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Meliorism

Today's word is "meliorism" ... The doctrine that the world tends to become better or may be made better by human effort.

Proud

Problems all around, I see.

What should we do? Let them be?

Certainly we've got the brains,

To make great impressive gains.

We can sort it out, I'm sure,

Change the future, find a cure,

Build up walls to stop tornadoes,

Grow organic ripe tomatoes.

Nothing is too hard for us.

There's no need to rant or fuss.

We're melioristically enthused.

We are great! We cannot lose!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Boondoggle

Today's word is "boondoggle" ... To do work of little or no practical value merely to keep or look busy; a project funded by the federal government out of political favoritism that is of no real value to the community or the nation. (Dictionary.com)

Institute
Big things move slow,
Like governments and schools you know,
They've lots of parts to coordinate,
For services you'll have to wait.

Seemlingly they've good intentions,
Though we may have apprehensions,
That a boondoggle will ensue,
When they try to do the best for you.

It's better to think for yourself,
Than take whatever's on their shelf,
At least that way you'll know you tried,
And didn't from your intuitions shy.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Indelible

Today's word is "indelible" ... 1. That cannot be eliminated, forgotten, changed, or the like; the indelible memories of war; the indelible influence of a great teacher; 2. Making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or the like: indelible ink.

Begin

A fainting fall of blossoms,

To the ground is drawn,

Warming air's aflutter,

A gift within the dawn.

The sky clears with the hours,

Birds sing loud their song,

God illuminates the spirit,

If to him you belong.

Not to this moment only,

Will this memory cling,

But indelibly and ever,

A figure of all springs.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Symbol 

Bel-esprit

Today's word is "bel-esprit (bel-es-PREE) ... A person of great wit or intellect.

What?
Sitting with her books and charts,
This bel-esprit is languishing,
It seems no matter what she knows,
There are holes where 'ere she goes.

The total of man's experience,
Is hers to comprehend,
Yet unknown planets run aground,
And mysteries are all around.

It takes a bit of innocence,
To make it through this mist,
Yet search she will with unending grit,
And hope she's saved by her own wit.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Meta

Today's word is "meta" ... Pertaining to or noting a story, conversation, character, etc. that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features, often in the form of parody: a movie about making a movie is just so ... Meta ... Especially when the actors criticize the acting. (Dictionary.com)

See

Metaphysically,

Meanings are mysteriously

Lived loud in plain sight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Wilding

Today's word is "wilding" ... A wild plant, flower or animal. (Dictionary.com)

Banquet
There are those who
occupy the city, who are at home
in the midst of cacophony.
Every fancied wish may
be fulfilled in triplicate ... body
mind and spirit lack for nothing,
and they are content in their
extravagance.

There are those who
occupy the castle walls,
who happily straddle
the fence of compromise.
Neither in, nor out, they
observe the comforts of
the city and the thrill
of the far-off hills with
equanimity.

But, just outside the gates,
and beyond, are the wildings,
those who whistle and sing
siren songs to all who will
listen. They sing of freedom,
resurrection and the open road,
stopping only long enough
to feast on bread and wine.

Sometimes, if you stand by
the windowed walls and
breathe quietly, you can
hear their melody drifting
up through tree and spire
as they call your name.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Leviathan

Today's word is "leviathan. Li-VAHY-uh-thuan. 1. Anything of immense size and power, as a huge, oceangoing ship. 2. (Often initial capital letter) Bible. A sea monster. (Dictionary.com)

Hymn

Why turn to word or song?

Why read the ancient scrolls?

Do we hope to find secrets

that will keep at bay

the leviathan of our fear?

In the stories of those who

bravely came before and

prayed and lived and learned

of God, we find ourselves.

And, sometimes, if we listen

closely, we will hear his

voice and feel the breath

of spirit as it fills us

and shows us the

next step to take.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Abecedarian

Today's word is "abecedarian"  (ey-bee-see-DAIR-ee-um) ... Noun: 1. A person who is learning the letters of the alphabet. 2. A beginner in any field of learning; adjective: 1. Of or pertaining to the alphabet. 2. Arranged in alphabetical order. 3. Rudimentary; elementary; primary (dictionary.com)

New
Wandering through the town,
taking in all the sights and sounds and smells,
of this new place.

Checking out attractions.
Hoping to see everything at once.
But, we are abecedarians by
local standards. Turning the
map. This way and that. Unsure.
Not wanting to appear foolish.
And then, kind strangers come to
the rescue. And away we go:
to the falls, to the museum,
to the famous restaurant.
Pleased to be back
on the right road.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Nettle

Today's word is "nettle" ... to irritate, annoy or provoke. To sting as a nettle does. (Dictionary.com)

So

The threads! The threads!

Read the threads and be amazed ...

at how we treat each other and

how our biases shine through

our "facts." When facts are slim

or controversial, it seems we

must shout louder. Well we

cannot shout on line, but we

can attempt to denigrate the

other person and their point of view.

We can poke and nettle and

insult the other. We can call

them names and question their

intelligence. I wonder, would

we do this if the person

was standing right in front of us?
If it was obvious they were
sincerely seeking the truth

of the matter? Is there no way

for us to face in the 

same direction and look

at everything together ...

to calmly analyze the data?

I fear this animosity will

only cause us to dig in

our heels, turn our backs

on each other, and leave

us all blind and deaf ... unable
or even unwilling to try
to love the other. 

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Verbicide

Today's word is "verbicide" ... The willful distortion or depreciation of the original meaning of a word. 

License

Poets can say most anything,

That the sky is pink as rain,

Or cows are flying overhead,

Or that beauty's a form of pain.

They might confess to visions,

Of realities unknown,

Or invent verbicidal images,

That make average people moan.

There's so much freedom in this craft,

(No one knows the rules.)

That sometimes we just run amok,

'Cause we can't control our tools.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Adret

Today's word is "adret" ... (a-DREY) ... A side of a mountain receiving direct sunlight. (Dictionary.com)

Seed
Come back to reason
all you who terrorize and threaten.
You, so lost in your violence,
so blinded by intolerance, and hatred
that you leave no air for the
rest of us to use for speech.

I pray for an adret where once
again, despite you, peace can blossom.
Where breezes of calm thought
blow soft. A place where love
and kindness can take root and
grow into unshakeable size,
like an acorn or, better, a mustard seed.

There is a tiny bit of light. I have
seen an enormous wall fall down.
And I have heard very convincing
stories of a resurrection. And so,
I am inclined to believe in the
impossible. Even now, I'm marking
each tiny sign of hope.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Soothsay

Saturday's word was "soothsay" ... To foretell events; predict. (Dictionary.com) I missed my deadline by mere minutes! Sigh.

Nope
It is much too late,
To make a poem rise up,
I soothsay this problem will,
Be resolved by morning.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Tarantism

Today's word is "tarantism" TAR-uhn-tiz-uhm ... A mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, especially as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula.

Run!
She just learned to walk,
We took her shoes off.
She stood on the hard floor.
Then on the rug, wiggling her toes,
She stepped on, then off, then on.
And then she raised her hands
And took off.

She ran to and fro and plopped down,
Got up, ran too and fro and plopped down,
Over and over maniacally, as if
Consumed by tarantism,
Totally focused, the more times
The better. Completely wrapped
In the learning and the fun.
And she took the rest of us
Along in her irresistible wake.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Vane

Today's word is "vane" ... 1. A person who is readily changeable or fickle. 2. Weather vane. (Dictionary.com)

Choose
I'll take the yellow ... No, the blue.
Oh! The blue would look good on you.
OK. The orange would be so bold.
On the other hand, I might look old!
I think pink might be my style ...
Why oh why does that make you smile?
What do you mean, I'm vane and strange?
At least I'm trying to engage.
Maybe you should pick for me,
Then from decisions I'd be free!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Grabble

Today's word is "grabble" ... To feel or search with the hands; grope. (Dictionary.com)

Purse
I know it's in there somewhere,
Probably underneath,
I put it there this afternoon,
This is beyond belief!

I really need to get this call.
My phone is colored blue,
You'd think that I could see it,
It's such a brilliant hue.

Now I'm grabbling all around ...
Oh look! I found a dime!
The ringing will soon stop I'm sure,
If I can't find it quick, in time!

Oh! Wait! I hear it over there!
I think it's in my coat.
I'm way off base, as usual; there's
too much technology to cope!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Ad hominem

Today's word is "ad hominem" ... Attacking an opponent's character rather than answering his argument.

TV

Watch the talking heads,

Argue their points of view,

One puts forth truth,

The other is askew.

He makes his attacks ad hominem,

Caring not for facts,

Only that he looks alright,

While he does his act.

But it's not hard to understand,

The tricks that are in play,

Just watch the thinking closely,

Not just what they say.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Frippery

The word for today is "frippery" ... Finery in dress, especially when showy, gaudy, or the like. (Dictionary.com)

Chirp
Blue and yellow, black capped
and red. Shinning little eyes
flashing in all the frippery.
Showing off, having lunch,
singing in the sun and rain
for the joy of the day.
They're collecting straw and
and string for nests ...
their babies will flutter into this
year and then the next.
Carry on.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Matrifocal

Today's word is "matrifocal" ... Focused or centered on the mother. (Dictionary.com)

Mom
It's a day for mothers,
To honor her and more,
Take her out for dinner,
Buy her something from the store.

Send her a nice card or flowers,
Give her a caring call,
Listen to her talk for hours,
Wrap her in a shawl.

Be sure your love you do express,
And gratitude for being here,
By matrifocal acts you will impress,
And bring your mother cheer!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Zephyr

Today's word is "zephyr" ... A gentle mild breeze.

Blow

Although it seems the upper

hand is held by those with

malevolent intent, a zephyr 

of hope is wending its

way right through their

fingers. And, as we pray, we

can feel, though we do not know

its origin or end, that something

great moves in its current ...

that in the end, truth will

overcome with power.

Anne Selleck

Copyrighted 2014

Diction

Today's word is "diction" ... style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words: good diction.

Act

What you do speaks to us so loud,

That the shouting of your crowd,

Means very little as we see,

You do things with which we disagree.

If you want us to believe your speech,

Your diction won't be what will teach,

Follow your own words with deeds,

And you will find that we're agreed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Caprine

Today's word is "caprine" ... of or pertaining to goats.

Query

Wondering about all things,

My caprine-like curiosity runs rampant,

Nothing is off limits, and all is answered ...

I can Google.

And yet ...

The really important questions ...

How did the universe arise?

Is there a purpose for me here?

Is God real?

Does he care?

Where does love come from?

Why is there beauty?

Why is there suffering and evil?

Those questions hang.

Unanswered by any 

world-wide fount of knowledge.

Something more is required.

A different kind of wisdom. 

A trick of sight to see 

the slight-of-hand 

by which this

world is run.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Wanderlust

Today's word is "wanderlust" ... A strong innate desire to rove or travel about. (Dictionary.com)

Escape

Sitting in my little spot,

Looking hard at what I've got,

I've seen it all and done it here,

There's no excitement and no fear.

I need to see something that's new,

Colors sights and patterns too,

Go to a less traveled place.

Where no one has yet seen my face.

This case of wanderlust is strong,

I hope that I don't get it wrong,

But I've got to open a new door,

Not rely on what I've done before.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Flit

Today's word is "flit" ... To move lightly and swiftly; fly, dart, or skim along. (Dictionary.com)

Go

The book I'm reading,

TV news,

A friend to call,

An appointment to keep,

Food calculations,

Bank account,

A project to accomplish,

A rumor heard,

A noise outside,

A feeling,

Chores,

A worry,

A new song,

A cat's meow,

I'm flitting, flying ...

Meditating ...

Sigh.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Coterie

Today's word is "coterie" ... A group of people who associate closely. (Dictionary.com)

Church

Voices raise together,

Praising God above,

We're a coterie of spirits,

United in our love.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Withershins

Today's word is "withershins" ...  Chiefly Scot. In a direction contrary to the natural one, especially contrary to the apparent course of the sun or counterclockwise: considered as unlucky or causing disaster. Also widershins. (Dictionary.com)

Stop
Sometimes we live so fast, we miss what's
right in front of us. It's so hard to be mindful,
to breathe, to stop running withershins, all
over the place, busy creating our own downfalls.
If we could only will ourselves to stop. For once.
And give the moment our complete attention.
What might we discover. About our world?
About ourselves? Maybe a little pause
would free us from the burdens we are
so convinced we must carry.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Scintillate

Today's word is "scintillate" ... To twinkle, as the stars; to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brillance; to emit sparks. (Dictionary.com)

Talk
Little fishes, in the sea,
Show God's creativity,
They dash and lumber all around,
Making mostly tiny sounds,

Unless you count the great, grand whales,
Slapping water with their tails ...
Or the porpoise you include,
As in their multitudes, they
Chatter more than aged maids
Sipping tea within a glade.

I find them all most scintillating,
In their ways communicating.
But if I were a fish, I bet,
I'd rather have an alphabet!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Sally

Today's word is "Sally" ... An excursion or trip , usually off the main course; (of things) to issue forth.

Noun: 

1. A sortie of troops from a besieged place upon an enemy.

2. A sudden rushing forth or activity.

3. An outburst or flight of passion, fancy, etc.: a Sally of anger.

4. A clever, witty, or fanciful remark.

5. Carpentry: a projection, as of the end of a rafter beyond the.notch by which the rafter is fitted over the wall plate.

Interface

I have a friend named Sally,

But that's not what this is about,

It's all about the way you go,

When you're going out.

If you go with happiness,

Even if you go 'round undone,

Your day will be graced each moment,

With laughter and with fun.

But, if you sally forth with anger,

And a face that's pinched and mean,

You might find that you are friendless,

And have no one on whom to lean.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Effloresce

Today's word is "efflorese" ... (ef-luh-RES) ... To burst into bloom; blossom. (Dictionary.com)

Bud

This world will one day,

Efflorese into wholeness

As we are redeemed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014