Cryptesthesia

Today's word is "cryptesthesia" ... Krio-tuhs-THEE-zhuh ... Psychology. allegedly paranormal perception, as clairvoyance or clairaudience. (dictionary.com)

Again

Wether in thrall to cryptesthesia,

Or in fear of moving shadows,
Ducking from paranormal fancy,
Or wandering in the dark.

This night is full of mystery,
And anything is possible,
Broomsticks and witches,
Ghosties and jackolanterned smiles.

But soon enough this hallowed eve,
Will dissipate into the midnight hour,
And morn will come with hope,
As sleepyness breaks to reality.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Baleful ... Hallowed

Today's word is "baleful" ... BEYL-full ... full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious. Obsolete. wretched; miserable. (dictionary.com)

Hallowed
When this baleful holiday's done,
I'll will grateful and happy be,
Celebrating witches, ghosts and spooks,
Seems a waste of time to me.

I suppose the children are enthused,
But mostly to collect the candy,
Or to play at dressing up,
All of that is fine and dandy.

But why should we give evil a hand,
Even in jest or play?
When, instead, we could all stand for good,
And bring in a brighter day.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Chthonian ... Creatures

Today's word is "chthonian" ... THOH-née-uhn ... Classical Mythology. of or pertaining to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth. (dictionary.com)

Creatures
For some this autumnul time of year,
Brings not the happiness or cheer,
Of chilly nights warmed by fire,
But, dreams of chanting, chthonian choirs.

The falling of each dusk brings fear,
Of invisible entities drawing near,
And every corner has a ghost,
Who's looking for a likely host.

But I prefer my ghosts in sheets,
Wearing sneakers on their feet,
And as for choirs of unearthy noise,
I'll pick the playful shouts of boys.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Poltergeist ... Creep

Today's word is "poltergeist" ... POHL-ter-gahyst ... A ghost or spirit supposed to manifest its presence by notices, knockings, etc. (Dictionary.com)

Creep

It's dark. It's cold. It's spooky.

Who's that knock, knock, knocking at my door?

Don't look out the window,

Hide with me here on the floor.

Maybe it will go away,

If it doesn't hear me breathing,

But I can see it's form I think,

Up there on the ceiling!

Oh no ... That's just your shadow,

Like you, it looks the same,

And that creepy sound I heard,

Was a branch upon the pane.

So that poltergeist I thought I felt,

Was plainly imaginary,

Thought up from within my head,

Now, of myself I'll be more wary!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Odontoid ... Grin

Today's word is "odontoid" ... oh-DON-toid ... of or resembling a tooth; toothlike.

Grin
It's almost time for hauntings,
Blowing leaves foretell the night,
When odontoid squashes slyly smile, 
And glow with candlelight.

Little ghouls and goblins,
Will run from door to door,
Hoping you won't run out of treats,
Before they get some more.

Though it's a gruesome fracus,
With monsters in the yard,
Even teeny tiny spooks,
Won't find collecting hard.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Quickhatch ... Mean

Today's word is "quickhatch" ... KWIK-hach ... a wolverine.

Mean 
Snuffling from his burrow,
Snarling at the day,
The quickhatch looks for lunch,
Eating whatever comes his way.

All alone he wanders,
Tracking through the wood,
Over snow filled meadows,
Not even trying to be good.

His ferocious habits,
Sharp teeth and fearsome face,
Give him a reputation,
One without a touch of grace.

When looking for an animal,
To be a mascot tough,
Look no further than the wolverine,
He'll be far more than enough.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Cygnet ... Tiny

Today's word is "cygnet" ... SIG-nit ... a young swan.

Tiny
A puggle, a calf, a hatchling,
A kitten, a piglet, a fawn,
A whelp, a foal, or a kitten,
To mothers they all belong.

A gosling, a pig, a leveret,
A cria, a cygnet, a kit
A colt, an antling, a pup,
Within families they all fit.

A baby, an infant, a kid,
A toddler, a rascal, a child,
Whatever you call a small human,
They live with us, not in the wild.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Cloister ... Salute

Today's word is "cloister" ... to confine in retirement; seclude. to confine in a monestary or convent. to furnish with a cloister or covered walk. to convert into a monestary or convent. (dictionary.com)

Salute
The guard changes
     in timeless ritual,
The sentinels from their
     cloister come,
To stand and to protect
     the honor of the dead ... 
Those who fell in battle,
     protecting freedom's cause.
Precision marks their steps,
     into twenty-one divided.
And their solemn presence proves,
     a reverence held.
They do not know the name
     of those they guard,
Only that they are deserving.
     And yet, they too, stand and serve.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Exiguous ... Trust

Today's word is "exiguous" ... ig-ZIG-yoo-uhs, ok-SIG ...scanty, meager; small; slender: exiguous income.

If we could see the world,
     as it really is,
Would that vision coax us into
     becoming something better?
If our exiguous ideas,
     we're turned upside down,
And we knew for sure 
     that love was bigger than fear,
And that deeds of kindness,
     would last forever,
And that unimaginable dwellings,
     we're being prepared for those,
          who believe in the unseen ...
Maybe then this world would be transformed ...
     as one, or two, or twelve of us
          began to live out of our best thoughts,
               loving the other with as much fervor
                     as we try to love ourselves.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Pavonine ... Strut

Today's word is "pavonine" ... PAV-uh-nahyn .... of or like a peacock; resembling the feathers of a peacock, as in coloring. (dictionary.com)

Strut

Here she comes again,

Pavonine colors flying,

She swooshes flagrantly in,

With flattery and smiling.

What makes this great display,

A vain necessity,

Is but part of her play,

Which shows forth her constant need.

Perhaps inside this hurricane,

There is a quiet eye,

Where new-birthed thoughts are sane,

And for adulation do not cry.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Realpolitik ... False

Today's word is "realpolitik" ... Rey-AHL-poh-li-teek ...political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals. (Dictionary.com)

False

You don't have to watch the news all day,

To realize that what they say,

About the bosses running things,

Is scratching surface renderings.

They're talking and they're shaking hands,

And it looks as if they're taking stands

Pure and faultless, yet we know,

Realpolitik's what's behind the show.

If integrity ever showed it's face,

Among those who choose to race,

The people would reject it sure,

As no real or certain cure.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Cline ... Ideas

Today's word is "cline" ... Linguistics. (In systemic linguistics) a scale of continuous gradation; continuum. (Dictionary.com)

Ideas
If today I'd choose to climb,
An imaginary mountain with gradual cline,
So I would have a subject here,
Would you mind, or at me jeer?

Sometimes the subject of a ryhme,
Is hard to think of at the time,
That you most need to complete,
It's lines and get something to eat!

Now I will leave this one alone ...
And no longer try these words to hone,
I'll try again tomorrow eve,
The perfect poem to achieve.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Halux ... Focus

Today's word is "halux" ... HAL-uhs ...great toe; big toe. The comparble, usually backward-directed digit in birds. (dictionary.com)

Focus

Fastened to his branch

     by halux and toes,

Hanging on in faked

     nonchalance,

Eyes wide, waiting for 

     unsuspecting prey, 

He watches out of

     instinct ... guileless.

On guard 'til morning.

     Then, his eyes will close.

And in silence, he will sleep,

     'til wakened by the moon 

      and hunger.

     

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Deiform ... Pace

Today's word is "deiform" ... DEE-uh-fawrm ... godlike or divine in form or nature. (Dictionary.com)

Pace

He walked among the sons of men,

With deiiform step and care,

Teaching that love's properties,

Are what we all should share.

His way was quiet, and yet sure,

As with wit and holy hands,

He changed the lives of followers,

Who saw his righteous plan.

We too are able to observe,

As he works in mysterious ways,

Around and through our broken hearts,

Healing as we pray.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Duple ... Staff

Today's word is "duple" ... DOO-pull ... having two parts; double; twofold.

Staff
How is one to know,
What peculiar meter should be used,
To set the rhythm of a tune,
That the mind's pursued.

It is a tricky business,
Metamorpsizing thought into a song,
Getting all the pieces right,
So the rest can hum along.

Honor's due composers who,
Can a duple to a triple change,
And make our eyes run sweet with tears,
By notes artfully arranged.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Conk ... Go

Today's word is "conk" ... Kongk ... To go to sleep (usually followed by off or out). to break or fail, as a machine or engine (often followed by out). (dictionary.com)

Go

Racing, spinning turning,

Running across the floor,

Climbing high up into trees,

Doing pull-ups on the door.

Crawling through the mucky mire,

Trying to catch frogs,

Hopping all around the pond,

Jumping log to log.

It's a wonder how he goes,

Around and all about,

Never stopping in his tracks,

'Til finally he conks out.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Mythomane ... Unmasked

Today's word is "mythomane" ... MITH-uh-mean. A person with a strong or irresistible propensity for fantasizing, lying, or exaggerating.

Unmasked
He fell, far,
     from heaven's height.
And gained (he thinks)
     a kingdom of his own.
He uses us to prove his skills,
     long practiced.
The greatest mytomane of all ...
      a true original ...
Except the truest form of flattery,
     and all that.
He cannot but appear a pathetic
     inversion of the Glory he once knew.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Juvenescent ... See

Today's word is "juvenescent" ... Joo-vuh-NES-uhnt ... Being or becoming youthful; young. Young in appearance. Having the power to make young or youthful: a juvenescent elixir. (dictionary.com)

See
In the Spirit, all things are new,
The old has passed away,
Juvenescence reigns in view,
Of those in whom truth holds sway.

To be allowed to see this sight,
Is a treasure unexpected,
Yet it comes without a fight,
From the one who's resurrected. 

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Mistral ... Blow

Today's word is "mistral" MIS-truhl ... a cold, dry, northerly wind common in southern France and neighboring regions. (dictionary.com)

Blow

I just do not want to think,

About the winter coming,

The mistral blowing,

Endless snowing,

Finding something warm to drink.

I do not want to think of cold,

Or cars slipping and sliding,

The skiers gliding,

Me in hiding,

Feeling very less than bold.

But it's still off a month or so,

Day and darkness mingling,
Harness bells jingling,

My toes tingling,

Watching winter's slog, so slow.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Accidence ... Slip

Today's word is  "accidence" ... Rudiments or essentials of a subject. (Dictionary.com)

Slip
Circumstance allows,
the freedom of accidence,
to create our world.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Yaff ... Hello

Today's word is "yaff"  ... Scot. And North England. to bark; yelp.

Hello

We were gathered all around,

Friends, relatives and dogs,

There was talking and much yaffing,

As we settled down.

On each other we'd not laid eyes,

For weeks or months or years,

But as we laughed together,

We realized common ties.

Time cannot erase affection,

It endures through separation,

When desire is real amd moves,

Our hearts in love's direction.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Ci-devant ... Preach

Today's word is "ci-devant" ... Used especially in reference to a retired officeholder. (dictionary.com)

Preach
Out in the pew, there was a man,
Listening as the word was spoken,
Summing up each sermon's worth,
Deciding where t'was broken.

This ci-divant was oh so sure,
That he had been amazing,
Since in his memory of the past,
On him each soul was gazing.

Still and yet the years go by,
Somehow the church survives,
Despite, because of servants wiles,
The word remains alive.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Frisson ... Shift

Today's word is "frisson" ... free-SOHN ... a sudden, passing sensation of excitement; a shudder of emotion; thrill. (dictionary.com)

Shift

Michigan is falling down,

Chilly air creeps all around,

Frissioned leafy splendor calls,

To those who wait, "Come one! Come all!"

Acorns litter every lawn,

Deer parade with growing fawns,

Toward Apple trees hung low to grass,

They eat; retreat down well-worn paths.

It's quiet in the afternoon,

Since children have gone back to school,

The last sunshine sinks soft and low,

As we tred winterward, toward snow.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Wisenheimer ... Cartoon

Today's word is "wisenheimer" ... A wiseacre or a smart aleck. (dictionary.com)

Cartoon

If you were a wisenheimer,

You wouldn't think too clearly,

About the things that matter,

Things you consider, dearly.

Being a little smarty pants,

You might think everything's a joke,

And never think of consequence,

In the way of other folk.

But even for the goofiest,

It might not be too late,

To contemplate the why of things,

The track made plain by fate.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Foremost ... Order

Today's word is "foremost" ... first in place, order, rank, etc.: the foremost surgeons.

Order
The rich, the thin, the famous,
The smart, the talented and young,
It seems these would be the ones,
To envy and choose to be among.

But in the rank and file and sway,
Of those in our society,
It seems, according to the sage,
It's not about propriety.

For there's another standard,
High and far above our own,
The foremost will be last in line,
When the last to the front have flown.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Azoth ... Perfect

Today's word is azoth ... AZ-oth ...The universal remedy of Paracelsus; Mercury, regarded by alchemists as the assumed first principle of all metals. (dictionary.com)

Perfect

Through the days which mesmerize,
We look for the source of all things wise,
But thought invisible does hide,
From our open, questing eyes.

The Azoth, most mysterious force,
Keeps the stars and all on course,
And we when quiet in our hearts,
May hear this voice of which we're part.

Rivers of great goodness flow,
In those who in love's way do go,
And there is solace to be had,
Leaving us joyous ... no longer sad.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Tutoyer ... Close

Today's word is "tutoyer" ... Tu-twah-YEY; Fr. ty-twa-YEY ... to address (someone), especially in French, using the familiar forms of the pronoun "you" rather than the more formal forms; address familiarity. (Dictionary.com)

Close
If the creator of all things,
Flowers, stones and creatures, winged,
Should come to call upon you,
How would you speak to him?

Would you find some scripture old,
So you could speak in King James bold,
And stand straight as a ramrod,
Waiting for a bolt of lightening?

Or would you see him as your friend,
And realize in him is your end,
That you could without mistake,
Smilingly address him tutoyer.

If he is Father, full of love,
And watches us from heights above,
Or from deep within our hearts,
Then endearment is what's right.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Boobook ... Trust

Today's word is "boobook" ... a small reddish-brown spotted owl, Ninox boobook, native to Australia and New Zealand. 

Trust
Little boobook in the tree,
I see how you stare at me,
From your perch you see much more,
Than I do standing by my door.

You fly in the dark of night,
Never fearing in your flight,
As you hunt and catch your prey,
You do not need the light of day.

But I, on the other hand,
Must have light to make my plans,
And when darkness comes to call,
I cannot see my way at all.

You have been given all you need,
To happily in the dark proceed,
But I've been given God's great grace,
To with courage dangers face.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Hempy ... Hide

Today's word is "hempy" ... Mischievous; often in trouble for mischief. (Dictionary.com)

Hide

Running all about the place,

Acorns adorning his small face,

The hempy squirrel digs a hole,

Enjoying his very busy role.

Each fall at about this time,

He makes in the lawn a fine design,

Of holes and lumpy hills of grass,

That trip up our shoes as we walk past.

In the Winter, he'll retrieve,

The treats he hid beneath the leaves,

And take them back into his nest,

Glad that the work he did was blest.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Exilic ... Abandoned

Today's word is "exilic" ... eg-ZIL-ek, ek-SIL ... Pertaining to exile, especially that of the jews in Babylon. (dictionary.com)

Abandoned

We do this to ourselves,

Separate ourselves from God,

Believing we are capable,

Able to stand. On our own.

We do this to ourselves,

Sure that we have answers,

That we are strong, though

Our exilic minds belie us.

We do this to ourselves,

Attempting to fix our brokeness ...
Mending relationships by

Throwing the jagged pieces away.

We do this to ourselves,

Because we do not believe he's near,

Standing there. Waiting for us.

His tears invisible to our eyes.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Demesne ... Within

Today's word is "demesne" ... din-MEYN, -MEEN ... 1. possession of land as one's own: land in demesne. 2. an estate or part of an estate occupied and controlled by, and worked for the exclusive use of the owner. 3. land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate. 4. the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state; domain. 5. a district; region. (Dictionary.com)

Within

When all the world is His,

His kingdom and demesne,

There is no place outreached,

Or forgotten by His will.

All is compassed round,

Engulfed in love as wide,

As skies are wide, or Norh

Is far from the end of southern climes.

In this we calmly take our rest,

We are safe and we are blessed,
Our lives have always been in His,
Children of the greatest good.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014