Helix ... Go

Today's word is "helix" ... HEE-liks ... a spiral. (Dictionary.com)

Go

Within the spiral,

Up and down are possible.

Choose where you will go.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Enceinte ... Thanks

Today's word is "enceint" ... en-SEYNT, ahn-SANT ... pregnant; with child. 2. enclosed. (Dictionary.com)

Thanks

I have so many questions,

Numbered answers, one or two,

What then the difficulty,

With understanding just a few?

I want to stand in expectation,

Be enceint with the truth,

But it seems that I am only,

Some kind of answer sleuth.

To "just sit" here in the present,

And accept all that surrounds,

Requires a kind of trusting,

That is not naturally found.

So each day I practice breathing,

Testing gently what comes near,

As I pray for equilibrium,

To feel gratitude, not fear.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Argy-bargy ... Critical

Today's word is "argy-bargy ... AHR-gee-BAHR-gee ... Chiefly British. a vigorous discussion or dispute. (Dictionary.com)

Critical
If you choose here to defend,
An argy-bargy will ensue,
Because no one can agree,
On this pernicious issue.

Lots are drawn and sides are taken,
Some truely think peace is at hand,
But other signs are pointing,
To trouble in the land.

There is no grounded middle,
Where safety can be found,
We're praying for a breakthrough,
Before this takes us down.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Opprobrious ... Bleh

Today's word is "opprobrious" ... uh-PROH-Bree-uh s ... outrageously disgraceful or shameful: opprobrious conduct. (dictionary.com)

Bleh
I wonder at humans, big and small,
Who seem to care little, if at all,
About their opprobrious behavior,
(They don't think they need a savior.)

Whatever goes on inside their heads,
Comes out their mouths or hands instead,
No filter needed with this lifestyle,
It's all presented with sulk or smile.

Part of being part of this peopled-race,
(I thought) is staking out your place,
With language graceful, despite your views,
And love for others, which you choose.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Protean ... Burst

Today's word is "protean" ... PROH-tee-uh n ... readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable. changeable in shape or form, as an amoeba. (of an actor or actress) versatile; able to play many kinds of roles. (Dictionary.com)

Burst

When will we make our

Final, bright, protean change?

Our last winged flight?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Absquatulate ... No

Today's word is "absquatulate" ... ab-SKWOCH-uh-leyt ... Slang. to flee; abscond. (Dictionary.com)

No
You have to tie him up I said,
Or he'll absquatulate!
If he does, you'll have to search,
And for your meeting you'll be late.

A snuffling, stubborn canine,
Can elude you with great ease,
By slowly wondering away,
With no desire to please.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Xeriscaping ... Dry

Today's word is "xeriscaping" ... ZEER-i-skey-ping ... Environmental design of residential and park land using various methods for minimizing the need for water use. (Dictionary.com)

Dry
All things ecological,
Are at the forefront now,
Global warming, windmills,
Xeriscaping, saving cows.

We will control our world,
We are determined, sure,
But we are not in charge,
Though we wish we were.

The earth is her own queen,
Guarded by her design,
Our meger power's stayed,
By one much more refined.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Lachrymose ... Whether

Today's word is "lachrymose" ... LAK-run-mohs ... given to shedding tears readily; tearful. (Dictionary.com)

Whether

We were in the throws of summer,

Or that is what we thought,

Until by lowering temperatures,

We were lachrymosely caught.

Where are the unending dog days,

That August is famous for?

What other cold surprises,

Does this strange month have in store?

So much for expectations,

Of endless, sunny days,

We'll live them as they come,

Clouds, rain or sunny rays.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Quiddity ... Play

Today's word is "quiddity" ... KWID-i-tee ... the quality that makes a thing what it is; the essential nature of a thing. (Dictionary.com)

Play

Little children do amaze,

With spontaneity and joy,

Their quiddity inspiring,

Complete, authentic, not a ploy.

Faced with shining truth like this,

We realize what ageing's done,

Made us serious and sage,

But clumsy when it's time for fun.

Anne Selleck 

Copyright 2015

Mnemonic ... Flame

Mnemonic ... ni-MON-ik ... something intended to assist the memory, as a verse or formula. (Dictionary.com)

Flame
When true passion finds you,
Of mnemonics there's no need,
To remember all the wherefores,
Of the fire you long to feed.

It will consume you in its heat,
And melt everything away,
Until at last, all that is left,
Is gold made from sodden clay.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Laconic ... Shhhh!!!

Today's word is "laconic" ... luh-KON-ik ... using few words; expressing much in few words; concise: a laconic reply. (Dictionary.com)

Shhhh!

There are so very many words,

They come from every side,

Where are the laconic ones,

Who in silence do abide?

More action and less talk I say,

Might make dark into light,

And change this sad broken world,

Into something nearly right.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Beatify ... Undeserved

Today's word is "beatify" ... bee-AT-uh-fahy ... to make blissfully happy. (Dictionary.com)

Undeserved

You beatify,

All the wounded, broken hearts,

With your salvation.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Eleemosynary ... Goods

Today's word is "eleemosynary" ... el-uh-MOS-uh-ner-ee ... of or relating to alms, charity, or charitable donations; charitable. (Dictionary.com)

Goods
Do you have everything,
You need for your life?
Food and warm clothing,
A place to stay with no strife?

Do you have entertainment,
A job and good friends?
Can you say what you think,
And not have to amend?

Do you think of others,
Who don't have what you do?
Do you have eleemosynary goals,
That will at least help a few?

Keep the least ones in mind,
As you go on your way,
And count all your blessings,
At the end of of each day.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Festinate ... Quick!

Today's word is "festinate" ... FES-tuh-neyt .... to hurry; hasten. (Dictionary.com)

Quick!

Running through the store again,

Grabbing groceries that we need,

Hoping that we don't forget,

Something important in our greed.

We zip so fast we miss an aisle,

Go back and sort with fingers ten,

Fastinate! Get everything!

I don't want to come back again!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Brickbat ... Quackery

Today's word is "brickbat" ... BRIK-bat ... an unkind or unfavorable remark; caustic cricticism my: The critics greeted the play with brickbats. (dictionary.com)

Quackery

Duck! You might get hit!

Brickbats flying hard and fast!

Voting may end this.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Auroral ... Beam

Today's word is "auroral" ... aw-RAWR-uh l ... of or like the dawn. pertaining to the aurora boreal is or aurora Australia's. (Dictionary.com)

Beam

Wait until you see!

The auroral light will shine

And reveal us all!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Heliolatry ...

Today's word is "heliolatry" ... hee-lee-OL-uh-tree ... worship of the sun. (Dictionary.com)

Respite

We thought that we'd enjoy,

Warmth of the sandy shore,

Not with heliolatry,

But with something more.

A love of splashing waves,

Of gulls patrolling 'round,

Of sunset's stunning hues,

And thrilling treasures found.

On the shallow sandy dune,

A cool fog chilled our bones,

We wondered at this sign,

And packed up to go home.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Burble ...

Today's word is "burble" ... BUR-ble ... to speak in an excited manner; babble. to make a bubbling sound; bubble.

Swim

Just a tiny burble,

From a brook or from a child,

A soft and simple cooing,

Makes the world seem good and mild.

It's the little, simple things,

Which comfort and which grace,

The finest moments in this life,

Meeting us in sacred space.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Ambisinister ... This

Today's word is "ambisinister" ... am-bi-SIN-uh-ster ... clumsy or unskillful with both hands. (Dictionary.com)

This

This world that we inhabit,
Was certainly created,
By a mind most masterful,
Within whom all is fated.

There was no room for error,
Or ambisinister-like plans,
Only a thread most elegant,
Could lead to the design of man.

What are we to do now ...
Now that we are here?
We could start by praising God,
With joy instead of fear.

Anne Selleck
Cooyrighht

Mellifluous ... Warm

Today's word is "mellifluous" ... muh-LIF-loo-uh s ... sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding. (dictionary.com)

Warm

Green trees shade the walkway,

Notes mellifluous fill the air,

Children squeal and run and cry,

The day is warm and fair.

Soon the leaves will color bright,

The birds fly far and wide,

Small fry will sadly bundle up,

As summer and fall collide.

In mere months, winter will come,

Yet, there's a plentitude of time,

To love each other well and live,

And feel the warm sunshine.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Psephology ... Race

Today's word is "psephology" ... see-FOL-uh-jee ... the study of elections. (Dictionary.com)

Race
You don't have to be a psephologist,
To see that this game's fixed,
That everyone who's running,
Has motives that are mixed.

We'd like the one who's perfect,
To rise up to the top,
To allow amazing answers,
From his sainted mouth to drop.

The chance of this event,
Is truly slim to none,
But I'll be watching carefully,
For the most honest one.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015 

Mondegreen ... Memory

Today's word is "mondegreen" ... MON-di-green ... a misinterpretation of a word or phrase that has been heard, especially a song lyric. (Dictionary.com)

Memory
Sometimes you think you know,

Exactly what's been said,

But a tricky mondegreen,

May surprise instead.

Your whole life you've hung onto,

Words that cut you to the core,

Then realize you're mistaken,

Because there was something more.

That things were really better,

Than you imagined at the time,

And that good will come alive,

Once you've recognized the signs.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Atrabilious ...

Today's word is "atrabilious" ... a-truh-BIL-yuh s ... gloomy; morose; melancholy; morbid. irritable; bad-tempered; splenetic. (Dictionary.com)

Jump

From her perch, she watched,

As chaos reared its head,

In rapid canine form,

As near her he did tread.

She laid back her ears,

And gave a warning hiss,

Her atrabilious mood,

About to spoil his bliss.

He didn't see her there,

As he launched himself in air,

And u-turned while suspended,

Above her chosen chair!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Ballyhoo ... Candidate

Today's word is "ballyhoo" ... BAL-ee-hoo ... a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity. clamor or outcry. (Dictionary.com)

Candidate

There is bluster all around,

No end of bloviating clowns,

They're on the street, they're on T.V.

Doing deeds just to be seen.

Elections now are getting close,

Many will shout and lie and boast,

This ballyhoo could make you mad,

It' enough to make you scream. Egad!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Chiliad ... Oh!

Today's word is "chiliad" ... KIL-ee-ad ... a group of 1000. A period of 1000 years. (Dictionary.com)

Oh!

They sang together,

A chiliad of new lovers,

Smitten flat by God.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Polysemy ... Believe

Today's word is "polysemy" ... POL-ee-see-mee ... a diversity of meanings. (Dictionary.com)

Believe
It's difficult to tell sometimes,
You might think you're seeing double,
When someone most polysemous,
Begins creating trouble.

He'll say something in one ear,
And the opposite in another's,
You'll think he wants you to be free,
Then think he's out to smother.

This person does not deserve your trust,
Loyalty or great favor,
Be careful what you say to him,
Be strong and do not waver.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Twitterpated ... Talk

Today's word is "twitterpated" ... TWIT-er-pey-tid ... Informal. excited or overcome by romantic feelings; smitten. (Dictionary.com).

Talk

Once I believed,

God was aloof,

That reason alone,

Was the only proof.

That sun and sand,

Birds and grass,

We're the ways,

I'd know he'd passed.

Then a moment came,

And I heard his voice,

I knew then,

I had a choice.

I could ignore,

What I hear and feel,

Or decide to act,

On what is real.

The funny thing,

About this state,

Is I'm twitterpated,

By this love so great!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Argonaut ... Fight

Today's word is "argonaut" ... AHR-guh-nawt, -not ... (Sometimes initial capital letter) a person in quest of something dangerous but rewarding; adventurer. (Dictionary.com)

Fight

You don't have to be an argonaut,

To chase after a dream,

You don't have to be strong or fair as day,

To work and plan and scheme.

If all worthwhile things on earth required,

Good looks or childlike grace,

Most of us would have no chance,

To succeed in such a place.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Boomlet ... Success

Today's word is "boomlet" ... BOOM-lit ... a brief increase, as in business activity or political popularity. (Dictionary.com)


Success!
Before the boomlet,
There was work and work and work,
Unrealized by most.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Entelechy ... Futile

Today's word is "entelechy" ... en-TEL-uh-kee ... a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality. (Dictionary.com)

Futile
You can try and try,
But God's entelechy,
Is not in your grasp.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015

Noctambulous ... Yikes

Today's word is "noctambulous" ... nok-TAM-byuh-luh s ... of, relating to, or given to sleepwalking. (dictionary.com)

Yikes
There are creatures in the night,
Where least expected creep and crawl,
Sometimes they're scratching on the outside,
Sometimes I find them in the hall.

Those who are noctambulous,
May bump into them in the gloom,
I'll take no silly, risky chances,
I'll stay locked up here in my room.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2015