Shtick ... Wow

Today's word is "shtick" ... Slang. one's special interest, talent, etc.

Wow

Healing everyone,

A shtick straight from the Lord's heart,

Serious comedian.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Disambiguate ... Confusion

Today's word is "disambiguate" ... Dis-am-bIG-yoo-yet ... To remove the ambiguity from; make unambiguous.

Confusion

Why do bad things seem to happen,

For no ryhme or reason,

Things are fine for a little while,

Then comes a sorrowful season.

To disambiguate this dilemma,

Theologians often say,

Sin came in; ruined everything,

Took all the light away.

However, what we need to do,

Even though this world's on fire,

Is practice goodness as best we can,

Until it's all that we desire.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Gibbosity ... Screech

Today's word is "gibbosity" ... A protuberance or swelling; the state of being gibbous. (dictionary.com).

Screech 

Sitting under a gibbous moon,

Little kittens like to croon,

They stalk each other on the fence,

And yeowl and hiss with cat finesse.

It wouldn't be so bad you see,

If they weren't also bothering me,

Maybe if I threw a shoe,

Their sounds would turn to quiet mews.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Favonian ... Summer?

Today's word is "favonian" ... fuh-VOH-née-uhn ... of or pertaining to the west wind. mild or favorable; propitious. (dictionary.com)

Summer?

It is July in Michigan,

There are no winds favonian,

The sun won't shine, the air is cold,

Where 'ere we go, we jackets hold.

It seems that in our memories,

A cold, cold summer we can't see,

But thinking of the normal heat,

I think this coolness has it beat!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Euthenics ... Beach

Euthenics (yoo-THEN-iks) a science concerned with bettering the condition of human beings through the improvement of their environment.

Beach 

For me, the very best day would be,

To stroll the beach and watch the sea,

And feel the waves beneath my toes,

As gulls fly over, to and fro.

The time would be late afternoon,

The day late in the month of June,

The people 'round me family,

Who love to walk and play with me.

I think if this euthenical trend,

I could control to its true end,

I would be smiling all the time,

Because my life would be just fine!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014 

Aglet ... Tracks

Today's word is aglet ... A metal tag or sheath at the end of a lace used for tying, as of a shoelace. (dictionary.com)

Tracks
One two buckle my shoe,
Doesn't work anymore.
With sticky things like Velcro,
There's only one other thing to do.

Tie the lace like they showed you,
String the aglet through the hole,
Run as if your feet have wings,
The world will look brand new.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Laciniate ... Grow

Today's word is "laciniate" ... (Luh-SIN-ee-eyt) ... Cut into narrow, irregular lobes; slashed; jagged.

Grow
Beautiful poppy,
Laciniate leaves reach up
Searching for sunshine.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Ardor ... Canvas

Today's word is "ardor" ... great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion. (dictionary.com)

Canvas
Lifelike, it hangs. A picture.
A thought in paint. A man.
His ardor for the world expressed ...
clasped hands, bowed head.
Agonized for the world. His world.
He prays. For us? He did what he
could. Thousands and thousands of
years ago. But he did not abandon us then.
He intercedes now and 'til the end of
all things. His life given again and again.
His grace the only thing that can possibly
save us.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Hemidemisemiquaver ... Zing

Today's word is "hemidemisemiquaver" ... (Hem-ee-dem-ee-SEM-ee-kwey-ver) music. Chiefly British. a sixty-fourth note. (dictionary.com)

Zing
Humingbird flashes through the air
wings beating like hemidemisemiquavers
to his own song; the melody known
only to him. His flashing beauty shared.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Laden ... Trouble

Today's word is "laden" ... burdened; loaded down.

Trouble

Who isn't? Burdened. Laden down with

     all manner of troubles and confusions.

Families gone off kilter. Accidents. Sickness.

     Bad bosses or co-workers. Loneliness.

Too many directions to go at once. Or none

     at all. Wars in every country and no

          one to step into the gaps.

All this evil seems on its face to be winning ...

     but appearances can be deceiving.

Sometimes a healing occurs, a child is rescued,

     a marriage lasts fifty years despite not

          being perfect. Someone is forgiven.

These miracles should not be in such a world.

     But they are. Breaks in the downhill slide.

          Some would call these reasons to 

               celebrate. Some would call them

                     reason to hope.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Facsimile ... Copy

Today's word is "facsimile" ... an exact copy, as of a book, painting, or manuscript.

Copy

I would really like to see,

A real and true facsimile,

Of everything that's good and true,

Revealed by the very, very few.

They are the one's who're nearly there,

They show their love and really care,

There is no falseness in their bones,

They have nothing to bemoan.

The rest of us I am afraid,

Can not march in their parade,

We can only watch and hope,

And do our best to try and cope.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Moniker ... Call

Today's word is "moniker" ... Slang. a person's name, especially a nickname or alias.

Call

A moniker is a fine thing,
Especially if it has a ring,
That makes you smile to hear it.

If it's funny or makes you sad,
Or causes you to feel real mad,
Maybe you should change it.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Balmy ... Ride

Today's word is "balmy" ... BAH-mee ... mild and refreshing; soft; soothing: balmy weather. (dictionary.com)

Ride

It was a perfect day,

The kind when lithe trees sway,

By balmy breezes blown.

Sunshine on leaf and stone.

Bikes climb on gentle hills,

Young boys' laughter spills,

As on the path they ride.

Perfection is outside.

Memories are filled with this,

Images with pleasure kissed,

Then the evening falls.

Hear the nightbird call.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Mot juste ... Say

Today's word is "mot juste" ... French. the exact, appropriate word.

Say

What we need, here in this world,
Where war and tragedy are rife,
Is something to hang on to,
To keep our minds above the strife.

Something to keep our focus,
To bring joy into our faces,
To join us all together,
Of every kind and race.

It won't be made by our own hands,
Or created by our minds,
It will though be a sound mot juste,
Grace then we will find.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Tautology ... Out!

Today's word is "tautology" ... needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness, as in "widow woman." An instance of such a repetition.

Out!
He said, "Leave this place! Get out! Be gone!
Take a break, I'm tired of you!
Just disappear. Go through the door.
And please come back no more!

If I didn't know better, I would think
His rage tautological.
I really wish the words he threw,
Had been more theological.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Polaris ... Guide

Today's word is "Polaris" ... Astronomy. the polestar or North Star, a star of the second magnitude situated close to the North Pole of the heavens, in the constellation auras Minor: the outermost star in the handle of the Little Dipper. (dictionary.com)

Guide

When it's hard to find the way,
And night has fallen black,
You might be looking for a star,
Or some way to get back.

You need to fasten to a light,
Polaris, sun or moon,
To give direction and good cheer,
To keep you far from ruin.

But light comes in many forms,
In persons that you love,
In sacred books and sacraments,
And wisdom from above.

Let the stars be guardians,
Along your winding way,
But let The Lord of Lights become,
Your final hope and stay.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Writhen ... Night

Today's word is "writhen" ... Archaic. twisted.

Night

Writhen arms reach out,

Moon silhouettes fingered twigs,

Star punctured night sings.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Hypocorism ... Buddy

Today's word is "hypocorism" ... Hahy-POK-uh-riz-hum. A pet name; the practice of using a pet name.

Buddy
Have you ever listened as people talk to pets?
The dear, sweet names they give them,
(Do they true names regret?)

Come here baby, sweetie pie, little one, boo boo,
I love you, my snookie cakes,
Please don't eat my shoe!

People can't escape this fate, sad though it may be,
Hypocorisms may await,
Not for me though, please!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Tumultuary ... Endless

Today's word is "tumultuary" ... confused; disorderly; haphazard: tumultuary habits of studying. (dictionary.com)

Endless

The list of prayers that must be said,
     is long, is long.
So many tumultuary events are making
     themselves known in every
          corner of the world.
Add to them, our common list of sadnesses:
     sickness, relationships gone bad, loneliness,
          joblessness, loss of faith.
If the list is long, it is not unusual. It repeats
     itself every week from pulpits everywhere,
          only to be regenerated the next time
               Sunday morning rolls around.
And yet, on that same holy ground, hope too
     is resurrected. Is felt as real as any crime
          against humanity. Stronger even than those
               realities it faces.
And, for those who believe in life beyond the life
      they see, it is enough to think about the day
           when all things conform to their anticipations,
                  and all their tears are wiped away.
               
               

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Shoat ... Glue

Today's word is "shoat" ... A young, weaned pig. (dictionary.com)

Glue
Three little shoats one day decided,
To build little homes, and there abided,
'Til one day a wolf came to their doors.
And there'd be no little pigs anymore,
Except they stuck together.

Every day we are picked asunder,
By horrible mistake or someone's blunder,
And we too should always stick together,
So that no matter what the weather,
Faithful company will keep us.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Diffluence ... Read

Today's word is "diffluence" ... DIF-loo-Huns ... The act of flowing off or away. (dictionary.com)

Read

A tiny town, filled with stores,

The stores filled with books and books,

Every nook and cranny of this 

Tiny place filled with words.

They were waiting, all those

Words, for someone to buy 

And read. The diffluence of

Those words would change

An idea, then a person,

Then a community. And

Then those words would

Change a world.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Grok ... Beep

Today's word is "grok" ...to understand thoroughly and intuitively; to communicate sympathetically. (dictionary.com)

Beep

A little man came down from space,

And looked around to grok this place,

And finding plants that couldn't talk,

Continued on, and walked and walked.

But everything here was so strange,

His brain he couldn't rearrange,

So he zoomed back to his real home

Never more to fly or roam.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Panegyric ... Memories

Today's word is "panegyric" ... Pan-i-JIR-ink ... A lofty oration or writing in praise of a person or thing; eulogy. Formal or elaborate praise.

Memories

He had so much to say;

it was a true panegyric, fit for a king.

But the deceased wasn't a king. Or even a president.

In fact, as the stunned audience

listened to the amazing saga,

they were not sure they had known

him at all. The accolades went on

and on, building to a tremendous height.

Causing everyone to wonder

whether their judgement was totally

askew. When it was over, they

left shaking their heads and

pondering what might be said

of them when their turn came.

They began to suspect they

would be made saints also, and

that all sins would be forgotten

if not forgiven. That all, in the 

end, would be well.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Foofaraw ... Fight

Today's word is Foofaraw ... FOO-fuh-raw ... A great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant. (dictionary.com)

Fight

When you're small, and one of you,

Gets a half chip more than the other,

The solution to the foofaraw,

Comes with the fairness of your mother.

When you're old and wiser too,

And things don't go your way,

Only violence and tears,

Solve the problems of the day.

We need someone who's wiser still,

And has each persons' trust,

To calm the nerves and feelings,

And turn the fracus into dust.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2013

Previse ... Where?

Today's word is "previse" pri-VAHYZ 1. To forsee. 2. To forewarn. (dictionary.com)

Where?

Would we end up in better places,

If we could previse tomorrow?

If there was nothing hidden from our faces,

And we knew what path to follow?

Would we gladly walk the narrow way,

Or be tempted by what shines?

Even now we seem to stray,

Though we have the Word, divine.

It must take more than our mere will,

To make straight our crooked ways,

And our hearts with goodness fill,

So we'll have no desire to stray.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Noosphere ... Oxygen

Today's word is "noosphere" ... Ecology. the biosphere including and modified by such human activities as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, urbanization, and industrialization. (dictionary.com)

Oxygen

Breath in. Then breathe out.

The noosphere is alive,

with lightness and joy.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Anon ... Going

Today's word is "anon" ... 1. In a short time; soon. 2. At another time. (dictionary.com)

Going
We spend some time on this sweet earth,
With kith and kin and friends,
We learn and grow and do our best,
Working, struggling 'til the end.

And as we make our way each day,
Writing our own stories,
We're bound to this place but hoping still,
To meet, anon in glory.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Prudence ... Boom

Today's word is "prudence" ... Caution with regard to practical matters; discretion.

Boom

When you're watching fireworks,

The prudent thing to do,

Is to make sure the guy that has the match, 

Isn't standing next to you!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Estivate ... Beach

Today's word is "estivate" ... To spend the summer, as at a specific place or in a certain activity. (dictionary.com)

Beach 

Since all the snow is now long gone,

And warmth again has come,

I'd like to estivate upon

Some beach where waves do run.

I'd like to spend a month or two,

Watching gulls at play,

And walk for miles and miles and miles,

Til night brings end to day.

And then I'd count each beaming star,

Tucked in the midnight sky,

And think of the amazing things,

That make me wonder why.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Lagniappe ... Abundance

Today's word is "lagniappe" ... lan-YAP ... A small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; bonus. (dictionary.com)

Abundance
A lagniappe given,
The sun and moon above us,
Earth would've been enough.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Dactylogram ... Evidence

Today's word is "dactylogram" ... dak-TIL-uh-gram ... a fingerprint.

Evidence
Mountains capped with glaciers,
Deserts full of bursting blooms,
Jungles bright with crying birds
     and animals unimaginable,
A thousand, thousand fish in
     schools all the world around.
What are all these but the
     dactylogram of God?
He may have decided not to show his face
(lest we die of fright) but, the unmistakable
signs of his impossible creativity are, never-the-less,
enough to make one forget to breathe.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014