Piffle ...

Today's word is "piffle" ... nonsense, as trivial or senseless talk.

Blah
Do I really need to listen,
To the silly words they say?
All the crazy piffle,
That goes around each day?

I'd rather listen closely,
To the words in my own head,
Or hide under my pillow,
In the quiet of my bed.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Cacophonous ... Tweeters

Today's word is "cacophonous" ... kuh-KOF-uh-nuhs ... having a harsh or discordant sound. (Dictionary.com)

Tweeters
The birds are back in town,
Singing in the trees,
With cacophonous songs,
They're always waking me.

But this is still better,
Than snow up to my knees,
Or sitting in my sweater,
Trying not to freeze.

So, here is to bright spring,
Where warmth comforts old bones,
And birds take over trees,
Singing in loud tones.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013

Maudlin ... Bow

Today's word is "maudlin" ... MAWD-lin ... tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental: a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog. (Dictionary.com)

Bow

When you pray,

What story do you tell?

Do you slant the facts

     ever so slightly in your favor?

Is there a hint (or more)

     of self satisfaction?

Do you remind God

     how hard you tried ...

How the other guy really

     was in the wrong?

Are you pathetic?

     Maudlin? Anxious for 

          approval?

Or do you come aware ... 

     that he knows what you know ...

          that the facts have been in for

               some time already.

In the end, we have been

     revealed by grace,

Forgiven before we bowed

     our heads.

Welcomed into his arms

     with joy.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Veridical ... Smoke

Today's word is "veridical" ... ver-RID-i-kuhl ... truthful; voracious. corresponding to facts; not illusory; real; actual; genuine. (Dictionary.com)

Smoke

There will be rumors,

Of riots and war,

Images consistently

Flicker before us,

This is more than rumor,

The images are veridical.

Within this negativity,

Lies an opportunity ...

To change our minds,

To change direction,

To pull the plug on violence

And replace its void with love.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2013

Simulacrum ... Finally

Today's word is "simulacrum" ... sim-yuh-LEY-kruhm ... a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance. an effigy, image, or representation. (dictionary.com)

Finally
Looking out the window,
The sun is shining down,
Spring has sprung around here,
Green has come from brown.

It is a simulacrum,
Of what is to come,
Once the temperature has risen,
And outside's the place for fun.

The last cold days are hardest,
To wait out in the house,
A few more days until we smile,
And no longer choose to grouse.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Culturati ... Stars

Today's word is "culturati" ... Kuhl-chuh-RAH-tee ... people deeply interested in cultural and artistic matters. (dictionary.com)

Stars
Where do you get your cues?
Who do you listen to?
What voices guide your way,
Or tell you what to say?

Do truth the tabloids tell,
And T.V. Stars as well,
Or when the culturati sigh,
Is that where judging lies?

Look inside where seeds,
Of true direction lead,
To the the One who knows,
Where all goodness flows.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Sang-froid ... Wait!

Today's word is "sang-froid" ... sahn-FRWA ... coolness of mind; calmness; composure: They committed the robbery with complete sang-froid.

Wait!

To show some sang-froid,

While all around is burning,

May allow wisdom its day.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Bolide ... Is

Today's word is "bolide" ... BOH-lahyd -lid ... a large, brilliant meteor, especially one that explodes; fireball.

Is

We will never comprehend,

Why we've a beginning,

Or the purposes of time,
Or our bent for sinning.

We're caught within a mystery,
That wraps us all around,
With bolides flying through the sky,
And quarks we've just now found.

Everywhere the universe,
Hides it's secrets deep,
We're the ones who want to know,
Which to share and which to keep.

It's odd, but words in holy books,
Have wisdom for those few,
Who hold them lightly in their hearts,
And believe that they are true.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Mirepoix ... Cookin'

Today's word is "mirepoix" ... mir-PWAH ... a flavoring made from diced vegetables, seasonings, herbs, and sometimes meat, often placed in a pan to cook with meat or fish.

Cookin'
Whether you use mirepoix,
Or something else for flavor,
Your tastebuds need a jumpstart,
When your food you want to savor.

To make a tasty day,
You'll need some spicy actions,
To keep from awful boredom,
And bring you satisfaction.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Gauche ... Stalk

Today's word is "gauche" ... gohsh ... lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless: Their exquisite manners always make me feel gauche. (Dictionary.com) 

Stalk
What could possibly be more gauche,
Than a zombie running free?
No speech, just awful grunts and groans,
If you see them, you must flee.

Their form of life looks like some sort,
Of resurrection story,
But in the end their enemies,
Will strip them of their glory.

If you want life that's without end,
And true life on this earth,
Listen for the Spirit's voice,
And trust it for new birth.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Brio ... Viva!

Today's (11/19/15) word is brio ... BREE-oh. vigor; vivacity. (dictionary.com) Yes, I missed one. Sometimes you just have to watch a movie!  

Viva !
Do you live with brio,
When you wake yourself each day?
Do you sing a happy song,
As you go along your way?

Or are you wrapped in sorrow,
Treading through a world of woe,
Leaving tearful shadows,
Everywhere you go?

The same exact circumstance,
Can cause joy or pain,
Depending on your attitude,
You will see sun or rain.

It is hard to fathom,
How we shape our fate,
Bringing to each moment,
A hand of love or hate.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Atticism ... Bud

Today's word is "Atticism" ... AT-uh-siz-hum ... conscise and elegant expression, diction, or the like. (dictionary.com)

Bud

Dealing with bullies,

Your Atticism plants

Blooms in the pig pen.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Asafetida ... Pill

Today's word is "asafetida" ... as--uh-FET-i-duh ... a soft, brown, lumpy gum resin having a bitter, acrid taste and an obnoxious odor, obtained from the roots of several Near Eastern plants belonging to the genus Ferula, of the parsley family ... (Dictionary.com)

Pill

If I had to take asafetida,
I think I'd sooner die,
Because it smells and tastes so bad,
I'd need no other reason why.

Things made with roots or berries wild,
Might work just fine I guess,
But I'd like some added sugar,
If that wouldn't make a mess.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Bunkum ... Vote

Today's word is "bunkum" ... BUHNG-Kuhm ... insincere speech making by a politician intended merely to please local constituents. (Dictionary.com)

Vote

'This the season for some bunkum,

And politicians singing songs,

It's hard to tell where truth starts leaking,

Into something that's just wrong.

We will make our best decisions,

Based on what we see and hear,

But very soon we'll all be wishing,

Elections would be done this year.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Grubstake ... Sparkle

Today's word is "grubstake" ... GRUHB-steyk ... money or other assistance furnished at a time of need or of starting an enterprise. (Dictionary.com)

Sparkle

Some say you need a

grubstake to be happy here.

But love holds all life.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Schlemiel ... Smile

Today's word is "schlemiel" ... shluh-MEEL ... Slang. an awkward and unlucky person for whom things never turn out right. (Dictionary.com)

Smile
There are jesters and schlemiels,
There are jokers and sad clowns,
There are those who know that life
Is no good if you just frown.

So wake to the magic all around,
Smell the coffee and the roses,
Let go of the unhappy world,
The stuffiness and poses.

Things look different in this place,
Where good takes center stage,
Where God speaks life into your heart,
And there's no more need to rage.


Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Argot ... Sing

Today's word is "argot" ... AHR-goh, -guht ... The special vocabulary and idiom of a particular profession or social group: sociologists' argot. (Dictionary.com)

Sing

Cathedral walls reach with

Stained glass hands for God.

To hear him speak, to feel his 

Touch, the supplicants bow down.

Their argot of prayer and hymnody

Rings through the sacred space.

This music rises as an offering,

Climbing, finding it's way out into 

The world where it will fill the air

With the breath of God.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Derring-do ... Brave

Today's word is "derring-doo" ... DER-ing-DOO ... daring deeds; heroic daring. (Dictionary.com)

Brave
From yesteryear there are reports,
Of wondrous daring-doo,
By soldiers brave, by saint and sage,
There are but very few.

This of course, does not count,
The many average heroes,
Who each day courage show,
Though their chance for fame is zero.

If you are sure in your beliefs,
Do not quake or cower,
Stand firm and know all will be well,
In the final hour.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Caseous ... Steady

Today's word is "caseous" ... KEY-see-uhs ... of or like cheese. (Dictionary.com)

Steady
Looking upward toward the moon,
It glows a trembling yellow,
Sometimes I am almost convinced,
Inside's a caseous fellow.

I see him watching, silently,
Eyes cratered in his face,
Following our movements here,
With eerie, lunar grace.

I might take him more seriously,
If his shape remained the same,
But he seems to change each day,
To wax and then to wane.

I like my friends dependable,
Optimistic, sad or cranky,
But I find this moonly man,
Each month to be most flakey.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Polyglot ... Revelation

Today's word is "polyglot" ... POL-ee-glot ... Containing, composed of, or written in several languages: a polyglot Bible. (Dictionary.com)

Revelation 

When the end comes shining,

Will it come with polyglot Angels,

Speaking to us all at once,

Reminding us of who we are?

Will we at least realize we have been

Loved since the beginning,

Before we were named or gifted

With the peculiarities of personality?

Will we see, that grace upon grace,

Has been given us; and that all

Our striving for perfection has been in vain,

That our salvation came, like a thief in the night?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Galenical ... Gulp

Today's word is "galenical" ... gey-LEN-i-kuhl ... an herb or other vegetable drug, distinguished from a mineral or chemical drug. (Dictionary.com)

Gulp

When it comes to medicine,

And choosing what to take,
Only the very best will do,
So there's no mistake.

Some are made of chemicals,
Mixed carefully batch by batch,
But I like mine galenical,
When they go down the hatch.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Brume ... Walk

Today's word is "Brume" ... broom ... mist; fog. (Dictionary.com)

Walk

Through the thickly brume,

We make our confusing way,
Watching for the light.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Caustic ... Life

Today's word is "caustic" ... KAW-stik ... severely critical or sarcastic: a caustic remark.

Life

Given the choice 

Between a God of love,

And a God of judgement,

Which would you pick?

Given the choice 

Between acceptance

Of you whole, or 

The caustic, chastising

You think is waiting ...

Do you think you could 

Finally choose the one,

Who has chosen you

From the beginning of

The world and all time?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Badinage ... Chirp

Today's word is "badinage" ... "bad-n-AHZH" ... light playful banter or raillery.

(Dictionary.com)

Chirp
Watching cheerful birds,
Their badinage proclaiming,
Spring has sprung, all around,
This season they are naming.

I'll believe their happy boasts,
When I see the sun shine,
Until then I'll stay inside,
Where the warmth is just fine.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Diddle ... Negotiate

Today's word is "diddle" ... DID-l ... Informal. to cheat; swindle; hoax. (Dictionary.com)

Negotiate
They wish to diddle,
Yet we must not compromise,
Finally, truth wins.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Panoply ... One

Today's word is "panoply" ... PAN-uh-plee ... a wide-ranging and impressive array or display. (dictionary.com)

One
In the panoply of holidays,
All around this earth,
There is no other anywhere,
That promises new birth.

There are those who say that we,
All turn into one spirit,
And those who say renouncing all,
Will calm the ones that hear it.

Some say there is nothing,
In the whole universe,
That we are all self-sufficient,
And that there is no curse.

But within us we all know,
Is the will to do well,
And the answering refusal,
That says, indeed, we all fell.

What saves us from ourselves is this,
That God himself has died,
Yet Frees us fully by his grace,
To stay close by his side.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Oology ... Nest

Today's word is "oology" ... oh-OL-uh-jee ... the branch of ornithology that studies birds' eggs. (Dictionary.com)

Nest

Today is the very best day,

For oologists to have their way,

They can decide from colors varied,

The location from which each egg's been carried.

And when it comes to identification,

Of stripes and other ornamentations,

They might be confused for just a spell,

Until they see it's Easter. Well!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Fabular ... Once

Today's word is "fabular"  ... fab-yuh-ler ... of or pertaining to a story, novel, or the like written in the form of a fable. (Dictionary.com)

Once

In true belief there is no room,

For fabular stories wise,

When life hangs in the balance,

There is no time for lies.

Only that which stirs the heart,

With fire Spirit-born,

Can withstand the testing,

With which we'll be torn.

Keep your eyes on things above,

Despite the storm or night,

Trust your inner leanings,

And put your fear to flight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Boodle ... Dye

Today's word is "boodle" ... The lot, pack or crowd. (Dictionary.com)

Dye
Racing around,
Getting eggs and baskets,
Jellybeans and the rest
Of the boodle,
All to celebrate Easter,
Without a thought as to
What agony went before,
Or what that great
Sacrifice might mean
To the future of the universe.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Malarkey ... Mute

Today's word is "malarkey" ... Muh-Lahr-kee ... Informal.  speech or writing designed to obscure, mislead, or impress; bunkum: The claims were just a lot of malarkey. (Dictionary.com)

Mute
This really is the problem, isn't it?
Trying to tell the difference
Between the truth and malarkey ...

How do you hone your sensibilities
To such a fine point that you
Will never foolishly believe a lie?

How do you determine something
So important. Something that might
Change your life's course?

How do you tune into subtleties,
A look, a touch, a feeling,
That you're on the right track?

Trusting that inner guidance
May be the hardest, most
Worthwhile thing you can ever
learn to do.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015