Specter ... Advent

Today's word is "specter" ... SPEK-ter ... object or source of terror or dread: the specter of disease or famine. Or a visible incorporeal spirit, especially one of a terrifying nature; ghost; phantom; apparition. (dictionary.com)

Advent

Emmanuel is coming,

See the light, a star,

From Jesse's root, a flower,

From a place afar.

Let all specters vanish,

With the coming of the King,

Let all darkness peel away,

With the peace that God will bring.

Without this hope we cherish,

Our spirits could not soar,

But he has come; is with us,

How can we ask for more?

Anne Selleck 

Copyright 2014

Alphitomancy ... Spy

Alphitomancy ... al-FIT-uh-man-see ... The use of barley meal as a means of divination. (dictionary.com).

Spy

As much as we would like to see,

What lies around the bend,

It's surely true that we cannot,

No matter how our paths may wend,

Through seance or divinination,

Or stranger, Alphitomancy,

Throwing bones or reading cards,

We'll not find out what is to be.

A better way is to live and learn,

Read and search and pray,

That in every moment, every turn,

We'll discover God's own way.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Tiffin ... Rest

Today's word is "tiffin" ... TIF-in. To eat lunch. To provide lunch for. Noun. Lunch. (dictionary.com)

Rest

Breakfast, tiffin, dinner,

We eat and eat all day,

It's our main occupation,

At least on holidays.

There is also conversation,

Much laughing, fun and joy,

The making of dear memories,

That time cannot destroy.

So the scraping of the plate,

And clinking of the glass,

Make us glad that we're together,

Nothing else will that surpass.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Degust ... Blessed

Today's word is "degust" ... dih-GUST ...to taste or savor carefully or appreciatively. (Dictionary.com)

Blessed

Turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce,

Vegetables and pie,

We can't wait to degust it.

(Later, we wonder why.)

It looks delicious, here before us,

We couldn't want for more,

Then come some more relatives ...

With food! Right to our door!

We'll eat 'til we are bursting,

Or want to fall asleep,

Then when the guests all want to leave ...

We'll give them food to keep!

We know it's not really about this feast,

But thanking God with grateful hearts,

For those we love and where we live,
Which is a very good place to start.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Pabulum ... Eat

Today's word is "pablulum" ... PAB-yuh-luhm... Material for intellectual nourishment. something that nourishes an animal or vegetable organism; food; nutrient.

Food for babies stuff that doesn't matter 

Ridiculous information

Eat

What did Paul say?

That when you are young,

Pabulum is your food.
You have no teeth and so,
Only gruel will do.
But when you older grow,
Milk will no longer suffice,
The nourishment must grow
So that the child will become strong.

And then. You are ready
For the truth of this world,
And the world beyond.
And that truth makes you invincible,
Because neither life nor death
Can separate you from the One
Who holds all the keys. To everything.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Nostomania ... Later

Today's word is nostomania ... now-tuh-MEY-nee-uh ... An irresistible compulsion to return home; intense homesickness. (dictionary.com)

Later

God created a place for us,

Beyond this world we see,

Don't you wonder what is like,

What we'll feel or be?

There's a house he told us,

It has many, many rooms,

It's far away yet near our hearts,

For the bride, from her great groom.

But until that glorious day,

We hope in anticipation,

Our nostimania barely in check,

As we await the new creation.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Gaslight ... Riot

Today's word is "gaslight" ... to cause (a person) to doubt his or her sanity through the use of psychological manipulation: How do you know if your partner is gaslighting you?  Noun. 1. light produced by the combustion of illuminating gas. 2. a gas burner or gas jet for producing this kind of light. (Dictionary.com)

Riot

We're peaceful! We're peaceful!

They yelled out with pride,

We know in our hearts,

We're on the right side.

We don't need the facts,

We've made up our minds,

We don't like the people

Who call us unkind.

We think that those others,

Are gaslighting us,

They just talk and talk,

And create a big fuss.

We want justice for all,

The truth must come out

(The way that we see it)

Or we'll scream and we'll shout.

Now faced with what happened,

In numbers and charts,

We may well have placed

Horse before cart.

In order to reach peace,

We'll have to think straight,

Look the facts in the face,

And try not to hate.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Figorific ... Blow

Today's word is "frigorific" ... Frig-uh-RIF-ic - Causing or producing cold. (Dictionary.com)

Blow

Winter days slowly unwind,

Frigorific winds, unkind,

Begin, retreat, begin once more,

Rattling window sash and doors.

Great anticipations rise,

Vagrant snow hides in disguise,

Melts, evaporates and rains,

Erasing all of summer's gains.

Through this season's miseries,

The blessed, fortunate will flee,

The rest will live by firelight,

'Til Warmth returns with sunshine bright.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Vespertide ... Opening

Today's word is "vespertide" ... The period of vespers; evening. (dictionary.com)

Opening
Take a moment soon,
At vespertide or sunrise,
Wake your soul to peace.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Bovarism ... Illusion

Today's word is "bovarism" ... BOH-vuh-riz-uhm ... an exaggerated, especially glamorized, estimate of oneself; conceit.

Illusion
Such a smiling presence,
So sure and confident,
Nothing shakes his countenance,
That's just how he's bent,

His bovarism shining,
Everywhere he goes,
A touch of true sincerity,
From his words will flow.

It's hard not to be taken in,
By his smooth manner bold,
All promises are guaranteed,
His thoughts as good as gold.

But sometimes a chink appears,
In his armor strong,
And on more than one occasion,
He's been proven to be wrong.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Apocryphal ... Daylight

Today's word is "apocryphal" ... uh-POK-ruh-full ... 1. of doubtful authorship or authenticity. 2. Ecclesiastical. a. (Initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Apocrypha. b. of doubtful sanction; uncanonical. 3. false; spurious: He told an apocryphal story about the sword, but the truth was later revealed.

Daylight

When will the time come,

For apocryphal tales to end,
And the truth to to be told?

When will the time come,
That we can trust our leaders,
Without questioning their motives?

When will the time come,
For all news to be good
And Justice to reign?

When will our humanness,
Join with the will of God,
To bless the earth forever?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Chiaroscuro ... Rays

Today's word is "kee-ahr-uh-SKYOOR-oh" ...  1. distribution of light and shade in a picture. 2. Painting. the use of deep variations in and subtle graduations of light and shade, especially to enhance the delimitation of character and for general dramatic effect: Rembrandt is a master of chiaroscuro. (dictionary.com)

Rays

Love appears in light,

Evil's chiaroscuro,

Reveals its brightness.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Star-crossed ... Center

Today's word is "star-crossed" ... thwarted or opposed by the stars; star-crossed lovers. (Dictionary.com)

Center
Traveling through the love of God,
May be a star-crossed affair.
It begins with desire to touch a heart,
That seems not to be there.

Every day brings occasions plenty,
To distract and tease away,
Any conscious movement toward him,
Or thought disaplined to obey.

Then there are the wayward leanings,
We try hard to suppress,
And so find ourselves unwilling,
To do what we know is best.

It is fortunate in the scheme of things,
He wants in this life to be,
The one to show us that in truth,
We can his children be.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Rufescent ... Soon

Today's word is "rufescent" ... roo-FES-uhnt... somewhat reddish; tinged with red; rufous. (dictionary.com)

Soon
The cold and dark of night,
Swirling snow flakes light,
Make it pleasant to remember,
Rufescent skies of last September.

Long, dark winter nears,
As fireplaces cheer,
And summer memories fade,
Warm sand; umbrella's shade.

Now, epiphanies and wonders,
Wine skins torn asunder,
Making way for songs of joy,
At the birth of one small boy.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Pell-mell ... Charge

Today's word is "pell-mell" ... PEL-MEL ... In a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, manner, etc.: The crowd rushed pell-mell into the store when the doors opened. In disorderly, headlong haste; in recklessly hurried manner.
 (dictionary.com)

Charge
Here we go again,
Rushing pell-mell 
into the holidays.
All the plans are in
motion; where to go,
who to visit, what to eat,
when to leave. Rushing
head-long, arms and legs
flailing, brains failing, emotions
all on the edge of sanity.
(We're celebrating. Something.
Or was it. Someone ... I can't
quite remember ... Oh well.)
Get the kids. Hit the mall.
Buy the groceries. Do what
must be done. Oh yeah,
Merry ...

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Panivorous ... Foodies

Today's word is "panivorous" ... Pa-NIV-er-uhs ... subsisting on bread; bread-eating.

Foodies
Some people are carnivorous,
And some are more omnivorous,
Some are happily panivorous,
And the rest herbiferous.

One thing upon which we can agree,
Is that food's been ruined by degrees,
Pesticides that are not good for us,
Fish from farms; cows in dust.

So find those veggies that are organic,
Save yourself and save the planet,
Get back to your ancestral ways,
And become more healthy every day.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Slubber ... Do

Today's word is "slubber" ... SLUHB-er ... to perform hastily or carelessly.

(Dictionary.com)

Do
Work! Your soul's at stake,
Those that slubber gain nothing.
Joy hides in effort.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Horripilation ... Commence

Today's word is "horripilation" ... Haw-rip-uh-LEY-shun ...a bristling of the hair on the skin from cold, fear, etc.; goose flesh. (Dictionary.com)

Commence
It's not even Thanksgiving yet,
But lest we start to stew and fret,
That lack of snow will spoil our fun,
Today it fell on everyone.

So it begins, the cold and storm,
Horripilation until we're warm,
Ice that makes our tires spin,
Softening the traffic's din.

We should be used to this by now,
The shrinking sidewalks and scraping plows,
And yet it is with some surprise,
That winter appears before our eyes.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Clowder ... Whiskers

Today's word is "clowder" ... KLOU-der ... a group or cluster of cats.

Whiskers

I once was accused

Of having too many cats,

in my house and my bed.

They said when I got old,

I'd wind up in a clowder 

of felines clear up to my head.

But there're only two cats

who live with me now,

and I'm not planning on adding one more,

So I'm not fearful of mewing

or purring, or beasties,

Cause with these two I have enough chores!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Gossamer ... Waft

Today's word is "gossamer" ... GOS-uh-mer ... a fine, filmy cobweb seen on grass or bushes or floating in the air in calm weather, especially in autumn.

Waft

This life. Held lightly,

fragile as gossamer ...

is what we have. We

think, sometimes, that

it will go on forever. 

Or that we will. Which is

an entirely different 

subject. Because there

is a distinct possibility

that we will. Go on.

We have been promised

a kingdom without tears,

where all is well. With that

in mind, we can bear

knowing that we are 

light as air. As spirit.

As a breath from God.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Hoyden

Today's word is "hoyden" ... HOID-n ...A boisterous, bold, and carefree girl; a tomboy. (dictionary.com)

Sparkle
No tea parties for her,
No silly girlie dresses,
No satin ribbons either,
For her golden tresses.

Just a tree for climbing,
Skates for rolling round,
A bike to get her places,
A home for the toad she found.

This little hoyden's happy,
As long as she can run,
Around her world unhindered,
Until the day is done.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Comeuppance ... Here

Today's word is "comeuppance" ... Kuhn-UHP-Huns ... deserved reward or just deserts, usually unpleasant: He finally got his comeuppance for his misbehavior.

(dictionary.com)

Here

We all do things that aren't so great,

And don't do the things we should,

It seems comeuppance would be our fate,

Since we can not be good.

But even on this earthly plane,

Is a spirit on whom we can rely,

And he is filled with grace enough,

To answer every why.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Sisistral ... Special

Today's word is "sinistral" ... SIN-uh-struhl ... left-handed. (dictionary.com)

Special

It is often pointed out,

That sinistral beings,

Have artistic inclinations,

And special ways of seeing.

I don't know if that's true,
But it makes me wonder,
While the rest of us are working hard, 
Do they suceed without a blunder?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Gapeseed ... Oh!

Today's word is "gapeseed" ... British Dialect. a person who gapes or stares in wonder, especially a rustic or unworldly person who is easily awed.

Oh!

The city spires upward grow,

Miles of skyscrapered windows stare,

The view is full of signs for shows,

And everyone knows just what to wear.

The gapeseed wanders high and low,

Astonished by each thing he sees,

His wonder seems to grow and grow,

He knows that nothing will be free.

I feel like him each time I turn,

And stare at the earth's beautific face,

Awed and amazed, each day I learn,

Of God's relentless power and grace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Anatine ... Eat

Today's word is "anatine" ... AN-uh-tahyn ... resembling a duck. of or pertaining to the family Anatidae, comprising the swans, geese, and ducks.

Eat
They stand in line, anatine,
Waiting for their dinner,
Hoping for a table, near,
A person who's a winner.

Elbows they would rub, and snub,
Those beneath their station,
While the morsels nestle in,
Their lips, without a ration.

I'd rather dine, with folks ... mine,
And live without pretention,
Enjoying common food just fine,
And conversation without tension.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Pusillanimous ... Trigger

Today's word is "pusillanimous" ... pyoo-suh-LAN-uh-muhs ... lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid. proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit. (dictionary.com)

Trigger 

Bravery, like beauty lies,

In the eye of the beholder,

Whether to in battle fly,

Or stay with those who're bolder.

Those pusillanimous ones,

Watching from the sidelines,

Would always choose to run,

Before the fight's been signed.

Sometimes those who timid seem,

Have reasons not to squander 

Life or limb or self esteem.

Because philosophy they pondered.

To them, sanctity is measured,

By life's breath and spirit bright,

Those who take another's treasure,

Can not claim to know the light.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

kickshaw

Today's word is "kickshaw" ... A tidbit or delicacy, especially one served as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. something showy but without value; trinket; trifle. (dictionary.com)

Breeze

Open all the doors,

Knock the kickshaws from the sill,

The new day starts now!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Horology ... Click

Today's word is "horology" ... haw-ROL-uh-jee ... the art or science of making timepieces or of measuring time. (dictionary.com)

Click
By tick of second or hours' hand,
By sun and moon revolving,
By seasons as they follow one another,
Or the new year's solemn toll.

By prophet's dream and vision,
By children upward growing,
By memory of a melody recurring,
Or new lines in faces worn.

This horology's ongoing,
We cannot but count our lives,
Marking each moment as it passes,
Or all at once, in surprise and awe.


Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Crapehanger ... Frown

Today's word is "crapehanger" ... A person who sees the gloomy side of things; pessimist. Also, crepehanger. (dictionary.com)

Frown

The sun is out, the day is fine,

But he's got problems his mind,

His eyes are squinty as he sees,

Not the flowers, but the bees.

He's a crapehanger of renown,

Spreading gloom all over town,
His glass is filled up just halfway,
About everything he'll have his say.

No matter what good you point out,
He will rebutt you with a pout,
How sad his life appears to be,
To happier folks like you and me.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014