Comminate ... Empty

Today's word is "comminate" ... KOM-uh-neyt ... to threaten with divine punishment or vengeance. (Dictionary.com)

Empty
What do we deserve?
A life of leisure?
Events to go 
our way?

What have we done,
That commination
Should not be 
our expectation?

What haven't we done?

Why then this grace,
That comes for us all,
Leaving us with
Our mouths open
In surprise?


Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Sodality ... Lone

Today's word is "sodality" ... Fellowship; comradeship, association or society. (Dictionary.com)

Lone

Sodality fine,

Pales in comparison,

With a mind at peace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Indemnify ... Wait

Today's word is "indemnify" ..."in-DEM-nun-Fahy" ... To compensate for damage or loss sustained, expense incurred, etc. (dictionary.com)

Wait
If we're not careful,
Who will indemnify us,
And return our world?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Cabotage ... Swell

Today's word is "cabotage" ... KAB-uh-tij ... navigation or trade along the coast. (Dictionary.com)

Swell

In all countries far,
Cabotage continues on,
Despite war or peace.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Dalles ... Sail

Today's word is "dalles" ... the rapids of a river running between the walls of a canyon or gorge. (Dictionary.com)

Sail

The tiny boat reluctantly,

Floated the current soothing,

Longing for a new place,

Where things were faster moving,

But day after weary day,
Green scenes passed by slowly,
With few changes to amuse,
No surprises holding.

Then most suddenly appeared,
Dalles chasing down the incline,
And all the calm left behind,
Became a cause for pining.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Subrogate ... Gale

Today's word is "subrogate" ... SUHB-ruh-geyt ... to put into the place of another; substitute for another. (Dictionary.com)

Gale

Gathering all its force,

Winter subrogates gentleness,

For ferocious fury.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Fiddlestick ... Humph

Today's word is "fiddlestick" ... Anything; a bit: I don't care a fiddlestick for what they say. (Dictionary.com)

Humph

What would we become,

Without a fiddlestick's care,

For this broken world?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Alight ... Sense

Today's word is "alight" ... to settle or stay after descending: The bird alighted on the tree.

Sense
In the darkness,
hope alights like an
owl, silent, silhouetted 
against the moon,
noticed only by those
who practice mindfulness,
those who wait and watch
for a break in the clouds,
a beam of light or 
haunting cry.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Railbird ... Borrow

Today's word is "railbird" ... any kibitzer or self-styled critic or expert. a horse-racing fan who watches races or workouts from the railing along the track. (Dictionary.com)

Borrow
Looking out the window,
Like a raibird at the races,
She stares from curtains parted,
Memorizing faces.

If she'd pay as much attention,
To the people in her life,
She'd be so very happy,
And experience less strife.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Babelism

Today's word is "babelism" ... BAB-uh-Liz-uhm ... a confusion, as of ideas, speech. (Dictionary.com)

Talk

Would peace come sooner here,

If we to all could speak,

In one language known,

The mighty and the meek?

Or does babelism keep us,

From even deeper misery,

From building towers to the sun,

Where only ourselves we'd see?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Pyrophoric ... Inhale

Today's word is "pyrophoric" ... Pahy-ruh-FAWR-ik ... Chemistry. capable of igniting spontaneously in air. (Dictionary.com)

Inhale

Sitting in the little room,

Candle burning, warming flame,

Spirit hovering in the air,

Enlightening everything that's fair.

In this pyrophoric space,

Wisdom flows in through the Word,

The Father of us all speaks here,

Full of love for those held dear.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Stour

Today's word is "stour" ... a. Tumult; confusion. b. a storm. (Dictionary.com)

What?
Watch the talking heads,
Meandering around issues,
Coming from all angles,
A stour of opinion.

Choose your side,
We won't all get along,
Someone has the power,
And won't let go.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Afflated ... Please

Today's word is "afflated ... uh-FLEY-tid ... Having inspiration; inspired. (Dictionary.com)

Please
Here, in the darkness,
Afflated love is needed,
Brighter far than stars.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Totidem verbis ... Screach

Today's word is "totidem verbis" ... TAW-ti-dem WER-bees ... with just so many words; in these words. (Dictionary.com)

Screach
A gathering of crows,
Black against the snow,
Speaking one to one,
The cawing, on it goes.

Screaming at each other,
Totidem verbis, loud,
No one knows the reason,
For this raucous crowd.

Off they fly together,
Chaos clinging to their wings,
You cannot expect to see them,
Sitting on a branch to sing!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Internuncial Astir ... Ummm

I missed a day ... for the first time!! So, this is something new. I'm going to put two "words of the day" into one poem. Today's word is "astir" ... Moving or stirring, especially with much activity or excitement. Yesterday's word was "internuncial" in-ter-NUHN-shuhl. Serving to announce or connect. (Dictionary.com)

Ummm

Sometimes decisions must be made,

And the choices all are grave,

But precede we must, with joy or fear,

Through internuncial spaces, near.

We bite the bullet, as they say,

Do what's right, and right away,

And then most unexpectantly,

Light is astir, most pleasantly,

Wiley events line up just so,

A path is open and we go!

Some power has overwhelmed us all,

Leaving us feeling very small.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Mackle ... Here

Today's word is "Mackle" ... MAK-uhl ... to blur, as from a double impression in printing. A blur in printing, as from a double impression. (Dictionary.com)

Here
Reading through the scriptures,
Trying hard to find,
One who understands my angst,
Won't leave me in a bind.

I might as well be scanning,
Mackled pages torn,
There's no peace, those saints like me,
In confusion too, were born.

But, the God of humans, all
Still met me in my need,
He was holding them in hand,
As he's been holding me.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Periphrastic ... Talk

Today's word is "periphrastic" ... Puh-RIF-ruh-sis ... the use of an unnecessarily long or roundabout form of expression; circumlocution. (Dictionary.com)

Talk

Sometimes, when I can't follow,

An argument that seems shallow,

And I look to find the reason,

Oft, it's intellectual treason.

The speaker will become verbose,

Periphrastic and morose,

No wonder little makes much sense,

And I get agonized and tense.

What to do? Well, walk away.

He'll go on for days and days,

But I can find a place that's quiet,

And leave him to his verbal riot.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Catchpenny ... Need

Today's word is "catchpenny" ... KACH-pen-ee ... made to sell readily at a low price, regardless of value or use. (Dictionary.com)

Need
Little  people in a cart,
Trolling down the aisle,
Nothing on their tiny minds,
But what will make them smile.

Oh! Look at this! Look at that!
I think I need those toys,
That sugary, flakey, cereal,
That truck that's just for boys.

Gimme this! I need that!
Their eyes are all ablaze,
The catchpennies have done their work,
(But by mommies they're not fazed.)

It takes a strong-willed parent,
To stay on the grocery track,
Else they'll leave with little ones in tow,
And a cart with odd things packed.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Glut ... Hoe

Today's word is "glut" ... an excessive supply or amount; surfeit. a full supply. an act of glutting or the state of being glutted. to feed or fill to satiety; sate: to glut the appetite. (Dictionary.com)

Hoe

Lettuce and spinach,

Beets and tomatoes,

Kale and turnips,

A glut of potatoes,

Carrotts and peas,

Cabbage and corn,

What else could I put on my plate,

This fair morn?

Pumpkins, zucchini,

On ridiculous vines,

Strawberries, cherries,

(Favorites of mine),

Turnips and onions,

Just ready for stew,

I live these vegetables!

How about you?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Cicerone

Today's word is "cicerone" ... sis-uh-ROH-nee ... a person who conducts sightseers; guide. (Dictionary.com)

Look

Everything seems better,

When you know the way,

When you have a map or two,

And a cicerone to obey.

But we are left, on our own,

To design our destiny,

Trying this, trying that,

Because we are so free.

What if we could reach the one,

Who deigned to us create,

Would we change direction,

Let him help us with our fate?

I think that it's possible,

To reach him with our hearts,

And take him at his word,

That his wisdom he'll impart.

This strategy will show you

Those thoughts come from above,
Are given from the holy one,
And resonate with love.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Dowie

Today's word is "dowie" ... DOU-ee ... dull; melancholy; dismal. (Dictionary.com)

Which
Every day's a new look,
At what surrounds us here,
A chance to reframe what's before our eyes,
And decide what's really dear.

Every moment we can choose,
The dowie evil or the good,
And determine in a large part,
What's a "must" and what's a "should."

This will of ours is still intact,
And helps us to control,
Where we go, what we do,
And what virtues we extol.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Interoscillate ...

Today's word is "interoscillate" ... In-ter-OS-kyuh-leyt ... to form a connecting link ... to interpenetrate; inoculate.

Open

We like islands in a stream,

Live apart in separate dreams,

What can interosculate,

Bring us together, change our fate?

As long as we are worlds apart,

Feeling not our common hearts,

Hiding in ideologies,

Refusing to compromise or see,

Our world will be tinged with fear,

We won't want the stranger near,

A new spirit must come in,

To change us all, from within.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Fritter ... Stuck

Today's word is "fritter" ... To squander or disperse piecemeal; waste little by little (usually followed by away): to fritter away one's money; to fritter away an afternoon. 

Stuck

It's a clipper, so they say,

That's why we're stuck inside,

And why I'll fritter the hours away,

While we hide inside.

There's no travel to the store,

Or going out to eat,

It is allowed to nap and snore,

Or soak your aching feet.

You could get chores done while you wait,

Like taxes or the dishes,

Or just leave them to their fate,

And munch on Hershey's kisses.

It's a guilt-free sort of day,

Who could shame your laziness?

Tomorrow ploughs will clear the way,

For the rest of your successes.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Cogitation ... Waver

Today's word is "cogitation" ... koj-i-TEY-shuhn ...  1. concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation: After hours of cogitation he came up with a new proposal. 2. the faculty of thinking: She was a serious student and had a great power of cogitation. 3. a thought; design or plan: to jot down one's cogitations.

Waver
No matter how long I cogitate,
On this world most confusing,
I know I'll never understand,
The actions some are choosing.

What seems to be most obvious,
To my uncluttered mind,
Is to others a muddled mess,
Which they can't abide.

If these divisions only caused,
Verbal arguments between us,
No apprisals would be feared,
Or longing for true justice.

But life and death are hanging,
On theologically odd strings,
And we never know what mayhem,
The morning next may bring.

So we must secure our faith,
With scripture and with hope,
Relying on the Spirit's voice,
For courage with which to cope.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2014

Sororal ... Sisters

Today's word is "sororal" ... suh-RAWR-uhl ... of, relating to, characteristic of a sister or sisters; sisterly. (dictionary.com)

Sisters

You'll be sorry if you fight,

Said the mother to her fry,

Later when you're old and grown

Living far apart, you'll sigh.

Her instincts were all right of course,

But one thing she forgot,

Sororal feelings and shared times,

Overcome unhappy plots.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Rallentando ... Rest

Today's word is "rollentando" ... Rah-luhn-TAHN-doh ... slackening; becoming slower (used as a musical direction)

Rest

This cruel cold is, in disquise,

A chance to stop and think,

To ponder life and meanings,
To come back from the brink.

Our speed turns rollentando,
When we from the window see,
Snow fall into drifted piles,
And decorate the trees.

We, like the naked woods outside,
Need this quiescent time,
To reinvigorate our souls,
And rest our racing minds.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Gleed ... Blow

Today's word is "gleed" ... Archic. a glowing coal. (Dictionary.com)

Blow

Wind is howling,
Snow is flying,
There's no use trying
To ignore it.

Temp is dropping,
We are sitting,
(But not knitting)
In our house.

A fire's not warming
The only glowing,
From furnace flowing,
Not a gleed in sight.

We are watching,
T.V. Amusing,
Only using,
What we find.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Niveous ... Brrr!

Today's word is "niveous" ... NIV-ee-uhs ... Resembling snow, especially in whiteness; snowy

Brrrr!
We wait timidly indoors,
As if more things niveous,
Are though most oblivious, conniving
Slyly to keep us inside, hiding,
Even though we are abiding, in our druthers,
To take comfort with the others,
Outside, where the fun's approaching,
And the children need no coaching,
To behave or to be brave,
Raving down mountains on their sleds,
Or being led in icy races, 
'Til we see there are no traces,
On their faces of fear or sadness,
Or any badness, which could keep them,
From the joy felt by each one.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Remunerative ... Get

Today's word is "remunerative" ... ri-MYOO-ner-uh-tiv ... Affording remuneration; profitable: remunerative work. (dictionary.com)

Get

What do I get for this.

This worshipping and praise?

What remuneration?

For taking up my days?

What? You say? I owe this?

Because in the scheme of things,

I am small and sinful,

And have nothing else to bring?

Well then, I'll continue,

This practiced routine of mine,

And hope that it is enough,

For my God, divine.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2014

Incunabula ... Abide

Today's word is "incunabula" ... In-Kyoo-NAB-yuh-luh ...the earliest stages or first traces of anything. (dictionary.com)

Abide
Bethlehem, oh little city,
Barren place where Christ was born,
For God's incunabulum was chosen,
A place forgotten and forlorn.

Why this town, so small and common,
Was the birthplace of a king,
Is a mystery and wonder,
To which our questions we will bring.

Perhaps the holy only rises,
On wings made of dust and sand,
As do those of mud created,
Rise, by Spirit's sacred hands.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015