Senectitude ... Shuffle

Today's word is "senectitude" ... si-NEK-ti-tood ... the last stage of life; old age. (Dictionary.com)

Shuffle

We walk with them

     in their senectitude;

we trail, not so far behind

     a bit more energy in our steps.

Wondering what it feels like 

     inside a skin that no longer fits,

          mind or soul.

Wondering how years rolled by

     with all of us, barely conscious

          in their wake.

We will toast to life lived well,

     through wealth and poverty,

          health and weaked miseries.

Yet in grateful praise of love,

     Which binds our weary wounds.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Lunation ... Moonlight

Today's word is "lunation" ... loo-NEY-shuh n ... the period of time from one new moon to the next (about 29 and 1/2 days); a lunar month.

Moonlight

Through lunation constant,

The darkness comes and goes,

The night time now comes early,

And time within it grows.

We'll have to wait til summer,

For light to overcome,

For warmth and daylight long,

A gift from our great sun.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Sockeroo ... Scope

Today's word is "sockeroo" ... Slang. a notable success. (Dictionary.com)

Scope

This world amazes!

A creative sockeroo!

Deep sea to deep space.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

De rigueur ... Break

Today's word is "de rigueur" ... duh ri-GUR ... strictly required, as by etiquette, usage, or fashion. (Dictionary.com)

Break

It would be de rigueur to pose,

     knowingly, as a whole person;

Sitting, singing hymns, with passion,

     yet feeling a dark longing

          for something real.

Hoping that this time, a cloud

     would fall, full of knowing.

And everything would change,

     forever.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Tzedakah ... Mite

Today's word is "tzedakah" ... tsuh-dah-KAH ... Hebrew. Charity or the giving of charity. (Dictionary.com)

Mite
Tzedakah practiced,
Lifts us beyond mammon's call,
Heaven's treasures found.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Jollification ... Burst

Today's word is "jollification" ... Jol-uh-fi-KEY-shut n ... jolly merrymaking; jolly festivity. (Dictionary.com)

Burst

Give in to jollification,

Give in to merriest mirth,

The Lord has come to save us,

Along with all the earth!

Why should sadness rule us,

Why should tears run free,

When all is in God's circle,

And dark and error flee?

Light your light this day,

Go forth with spirit bright,

Through valley dark or plain,

You'll with him walk upright.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Wassail ... Ring

Today's word is "wassail" ... WOS-uh l ... to drink to the health or success of; toast. (Dictionary.com)

Ring

Soon the bells will ring,

Wassail to the new year,

Fragile beginnings.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Tannenbaum ... Pine

Today's word is "tannenbaum" ... TAH-nah n-boum ... a Christmas tree. (Dictionary.com)

Oh tannenbaum, oh tannenbaum,

The song's already written,

Yet, as I gaze on tinseled trees,

I find myself well smitten.

Lights of hope and ornaments,

Symbols of love and peace,

Reminders of a quiet night,

When troubles for a moment ceased.

The newborn cry, it echoed,

All the world around,

And love encircled all mankind,

With that infant sound.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Plonk ... Genuflect ... Confetti

Today's word is "plonk" ... plongk. Inferior or cheap wine. Yesterday's word (which I completely forgot to do! Christmas craziness.) was "genuflect" ... to bend the knee or touch one knee to the floor in reverence or worship. (Dictionary.com) So I'm going to try to use them in the same poem😜

Confetti

Time for a celebration,

Leave the plonk and get the best!

Cheer on the ride of truth,

Ignore all of the rest.

A little child shall lead us,

Into this, God's good light,

Genuflect before him,

Let your soul with love ignite.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Humbuggery ... Sent

Today's word is "humbuggery" ... HUHM-burg-uh-ree ... pretense; sham. (Dictionary.com)

Sent

This is not the season,

For the humbuggery of fools,

Or those who think they know it all,

Or those who think they're cool.

Instead the humble will prevail,

And find the meaning sure,

In a stable small and mean,

In a baby, pure.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Cordate ... Flow

Today's word is "chordate" ... KAWR-dyte ... heart-shaped.

Flow

What's that empty space ...

That chordate hole inside us?

Filled with spirit.

Anne. Selleck

Copyright 2016

Mythopoeic ... Whence

Today's word is "mythopoeic" ... mith-uh-PEE-ik ... of or relating to the making of myths; causing, producing, or giving rise to myths. (Dictionary.com)

Whence

What we have come to follow,

     believe in and adore,

Is said to have mythopoetic roots,

     And come from unknown shores.

In someone's imagination,

     All our ideas were first born,

Then grew by mere retelling,

     From stable to the thorn.

And yet, a spirit closer,

     Than whispered angel voice,

Tells us to love each other,

     And that in all things there is choice.

This wondrous breath of life,

     Bypasses reason's core,
And reveals to longing hearts,

     There's something coming, more.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

     

     

     

Sociolect ... Private

Today's word is "sociolect" ... SOH-see-uh-lekt ... a variety of a language used by a particular social group; a social dialect. (Dictionary.com)

Private

The group was gathered round,

A circle tight and holy,

Speaking words of peace,

To each other, solely.

Their words were understood,

A sociolect of comfort,

They circled joyously,

As they'd each to each exhort.

But outside of the circle,

Were the hungry and the cold,
Who could not understand at all,
Those inside the fold.

Anne Selleck 
Copyright 2016

Hotsy-totsy ... Shine!

Today's word is "hotsy-totsy" ... HOT-see-TOT-see ... Older Slang. about as right as can be; perfect.

Shine!

Everything is fine;

In fact it's hotsy-totsy,

Wake up you sleepers!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Cataclysm ... Stun

Today's word is "cataclysm" ... KAT-uh-kliz-uh m ... any violent upheaval, especially one of a social or political nature. (Dictionary.com)

Stun

At any moment,

 A cataclysm may erupt.

Hold on to your hat!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Peccadillo ... Mine!

Today's word is "peccadillo" ... pek-uh-DIL-oh ... a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault. (Dictionary.com)

Mine!

They're so very irksome,

Those people with their cars,

Parking in your spaces,

Leaving you to park afar.

Why does this peccadillo,

Raise the hairs upon your head,

When there's a million problems,

To worry about instead?

In this wintery time of year,
This most joyous season,
Let us all just take a breath,
Remembering the season's reason!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Tyro ... Start

Today's word is "tyro" ... TAHY-roh ... a beginner in learning anything; novice.

Start

It's so very difficult,

The beginning of all things,

When the end result,

Mystifys what talent brings.

You, tyro sit expectantly,

By the master' side,

Hoping to excel at once,

Then losing all your pride.

Watching, it seems simple,

Put your fingers on the keys,

Your feet into the slippers,

Play or dance, you're sure to please.

But the sounds are jumbled,

Your body won't comply,

So practice, practice, practice,

One day you'll simply fly.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Thrasonical ... Brash

Today's word is "thrasonical" ... threy-SON-i-kuh l ... boastful; vainglorious. (Dictionary.com)

Brash

So thrasonical,

He sees his own reflection,

It blocks out the sun.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Festshrift ... Quit

Today's word is "festschrift" ... FEST-shrift ... (often initial capital letter) a volume of articles, essays, etc. contributed by many authors in honor of a colleague, usually published on the occasion of retirement, an important anniversary, or the like. (Dictionary.com)

Quit

Many people wait with joy,

For that special day,

When they'll receive a Festschrift,

Piece of cake and their last pay.

It seems the goal they've longed for,

All their working lives,

Is to put down the nine-to-five,

And do what it takes to thrive.

It may be a mystery,

What this freedom will reveal,

But with a little bit of luck,

They will thrive and heal.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Footle ... Fight

Today's word is "footle" ... FOO T-l ... Informal. to act or talk in a foolish or silly way. (Dictionary.com)

Fight

Circling each other,

With wariness and speed,

They think they know the drill,

What the other person needs.

But their talk is footle,

Full of self-important fluff,

No matter what they say,

It just won't be enough.

Until some truth is spoken,

And their souls laid bare,

Results won't be forthcoming,

Because there's nothing there.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Clarion ... Ring

Today's word is "clarion" ... KLAR-ee-uh n ... clear and shrill. (Dictionary.com)

Ring
Listen. Do you hear?
Your clarion call rings true.
From your heart it speaks.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Stickybeak ... Peek

Today's word is "stickybeak" ... STIK-ee-beek ... Australian Slang. a busybody; meddler. (Dictionary.com)

Peek

She peered in windows,

Old curious stickybeak.

"What are you doing?"

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Asomatous ... Vapor

Today's word is "asomatous" ... ey-SOH-muh-tuh s ... having no material body; incorpreal (Dictionary.com)

Vapor

Lighter than the air,

     Asomatous spirits fly,

No more gravity.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Mansuetude ... Break

Today's word is "mansuetude" ... MAN-swi-tood ... mildness; gentleness. (Dictionary.com)

Break

He came, in mansuetude,

     unexpectedly, although he was

          expected.

In glory, yet not glorified.

     By angel anthems brought 

          to light.

Carrying that self-same light into

     our darkness,

Lifting night for a moment

     so that we would know,

          our God is here and all

               is and will be well.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Campanology ... Notes

Today's word is "campanology" ... Kam-puh-NOL-uh-jee ... the principles or art of making bells, bell ringing. (Dictionary.com)

Notes

Campology ... 

     the thrill of octaves chiming,

          ringing, singing songs of joy.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Bruit ... Unexpected

Today's word is "bruit" ... broot ... to voice abroad; rumor. (Dictionary.com)

Unexpected

Long ago and far away,

People were the same,

As the best and worst of us,

In glory and in shame.

Just when it seemed fantastic,

That sin's cure would be found,

It was bruted about by shepherds,

Who heard an angel sound,

That a savior unexpected,

Would soon be on the rise,

And all mankind would find true grace,

By looking in his eyes.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Quondam ... Walk

Today's word is "quondam" ... KWON-duh m ... former; onetime. (Dictionary.com)

Walk

Grandson; quondom child,

With feet larger than my own,

Your path is waiting.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Faustian ... Deal

Today's word is "Faustian" ... FOU-stee-uh n ... sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain. (Dictionary.com)

Deal

Have you ever made a deal,

That seemed almost Faustian?

One that looked to future gain,

Yet ended where it had begun?

The lure of fame or money,

Or a life with troubles few,

Of everything for nothing,

Yet you watched it, as it flew.

The best things can't be held,

Just gathered to your heart,

The rest will fall from broken hands,

While the devil takes his part.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Simonize ... Shine

Today's word is "Simonize" ... SAHY-muh-no shine or polish to a high sheen, especially with wax. (Dictionary.com)

Shine
He was so very polished,
Each of his words was shiny,
If you believed his speeches,

You wouldn't think him whiney.

But then if you were counting,
Each reference to his ego,

You might run out of fingers,

And toes, before you know it.

As slippery as if simonized,
Cool as a green cucumber,

And yet so many people,
Finally got his number.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Laicism ... Burn

Today's word is "laicism" ... LEY-uh-siz-uh m ... the nonclerical, or secular, control of political and social institutions in a society (distinguished from clericalism). (Dictionary.com)

Burn

They worked hard for years,

Laicism stopped them short.

For no holy fire fell.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Quinquennium ...

Today's word is "quinquennium" ... kwin-KWEN-ee-uh m ... a period of five years. (Dictionary.com.)

See

The years pass ...

     one quinquennium upon another.

To amass the total of a life.

     But we barely notice,

until they've gone, then,

     looking back, it seems

          a flash we scarcely recognize.

All the bithdays and Christmases,

    summers and falls, children grown and growing,

meals and working days and vacations,

     merged into a glance.

How do we weigh that weightless sum?

     Some say the counterweight is grace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

     

     

  

     

     

Toggery ... Stunned

Today's word is "toggery" ... TOG-uh-ree ... Informal. clothes; garments; togs. (Dictionary.com)

Stunned

We sit in silence,

Ignoring our toggery.

Staring at the star.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Soliloquize ...

Today's word is "soliloquize" ... suh-LIL-uh-kwahyz ... to utter a soliloquy; talk to oneself. (Dictionary.com)

We were driving on the road,

En route from here to there,

Above us little birds were perched,

On lightposts in the air.

They chattered their soliloquies,

Into the graying afternoon,

Mutterings about their lives,

What they'd be doing soon.

We continued on our way,

Constructing human plans,

Oblivious of the avain thoughts,

Which high above us ran.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Heartsease ... Hold

Today's word is "heartsease" ... HAHRTS-eez ... peace of mind. (Dictionary.com)

Hold

When your life is going,

Into a darkened place,

Spinning out of order,

Without a touch of grace,

What gives you your heartsease,

Despite the raging storm,

What grounds you to the moment,

With hope for a blessed morn?

Listen close within you,

For whispered angel sound,

Unseen wings protect you,

Within, and around.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Schlockmeister ... Bonus

Today's word is "schlockmeister" ... SHLOCK-mahy-ster ... Slang. a person who deals in or sells inferior or worthless goods; junk dealer. (Dictionary.com)

Bonus

How many slippery schlockmeisters,

Are there on T.V.?

They're selling pans for a great price,

Plus a handling fee.

If you order two or more,
(Must be one is for a friend!?)
One or the other of them's free!
Even less for you to spend.

Eggs and cheese, slide right out,
And burned up carmel too,
Everything will taste just great,
And be a joy to chew!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Boon ... Thanksgiving

Boon ... something to be thankful for; blessing; benefit. something that is asked; favor sought. (Dictionary.com)

Thanksgiving

This is a day to count our blessings,

To feast and talk and pray,

To thank God for the boon of freedom,

Which we enjoy each day.

And thanks for family and lifelong friends,

Who journey with us here,

To whom we turn for comfort warm,

For meaning and for cheer.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Savior-faire ... Social

Today's word is "savior-faire" ... SAV-wahr-FAIR ... knowledge of just what to do in any situation; tact. (Dictionary.com)

Social

So many awkward moments,

When I've no savior-faire,

I really don't know what to say,

So I stand and stare.

Some people are always on their toes,

Filled with jokes and wit,

I'd rather stay where it's safe, at home,

And just pet the cat and sit.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Equipoise ... Tippy

Today's word is "equipoise" ... EE-kwuh-poiz ... an equal distribution of weight; even balance; equilibrium. a counterpoise. (Dictionary.com)

Tippy

All the opinions,

Now in perfect equipoise ...

One breath will change it.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016