Intransigent ... Return

Today's word is "intransigent" ... in-TRAN-si-juh nt ... refusing to agree or compromise; uncompromising; inflexible. (Dictionary.com)

Return

Sometimes, in the darkest hours,

Our intransigence leaks through,

We will the will that is our own,

Though we have been made new.

Confession brings us back to God,

His forgiveness what we seek,

But he sweeps us up into his arms,

Before we even speak.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Valetudinarian ... Ouch

Today's word is "valetudinarian" ... Val-I-tood-n-AIR-eye-uh n ... a person who is excessively concerned about his or her poor health or ailments. (Dictionary.com)

Ouch

Fear of every ache and pain,

Brings the valetudinarian to his knees,

There is no one to calm him,

Or hear his anguished pleas.

Each infraction of his body,

Reminds him, of his mortality,

And his failure to remain,

In complete vitality.

As he counts each scar,

He misses seasons rare,

In which he could have lived,

Moments fine and fair.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Tessellate ... Bzzz

Today's word is "tessellate" ... TES-uh-leyt ... to form of small squares or blocks, as floors or pavements; form or arrange in a checkered or mosaic. (Dictionary.com)

Bzzz

Busy little bees,

Will soon come out to play,

Warmth will lure them forth,

To the honey in the day.

They will fly in and out,

Their tessellated home,

Pollen-filled and happy,

Living their shalom.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Cognomen ... Oh

Today's word is "cognomen" ... kog-NOH-muh n ... any name, especially a nickname. a surname. (Dictionary.com)

Oh
What sort of name, what cognomen,
Can describe the light of truth?
The brightness of its dawning?
The end of death and mourning?

When we bow down in awe,
Compelled by presence absolute ...
Complete in graceful judgement,
How can we speak at all?

Yet this power who spun worlds,
And broke the barriers of sound and time,
Forgave all of our secret sin ...
Invites us now to call him "friend".

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Paschal ... New

Today's word is "paschal" ... PAS-kuh l ... of or relating to Easter. of or relating to Easter. (Dictionary.com)

New

The paschal season begins,

With surprise at an empty tomb,

Questions unfurl around us,

Secrets in eggs and blooms.

The impossible has happened,

Death has lost its sting,

Heaven and earth unite,

At the good news that this brings.

This simple, awe filled story,

Changed time's trajectory,

Leaving us bewildered,

By love's strange mystery.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Sophrosyne ... True

Today's word is "sophrosyne" ... suh-FROS-uh-nee ... moderation; discretion; prudence. (Dictionary.com)

True
The stone rolled away,
Sophrosyne replaced by joy.
Love has found a way.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Vernissage ... Hang

Today's word is "vernissage" ... ver-nuh-SAHZH ... a reception at a gallery for an artist whose show is open to the public. (Dictionary.com)

Hang

A new vernissage.

What bright ideas will shine?

Beauty's siren song.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Kenspeckle ... Suspend

Today's word is "kenspeckle" ... KEN-spek-uh l ... Scot. and North England. conspicuous; easily seen or recognized. (Dictionary.com)

Suspend

I heard him before I saw him,

Kenspeckle orange breast ...

Hopping across the lawn.

The first robin after winter's demise.

But, snow is falling again,

Cold and unforgiving,

Completely uncaring that we

Had comforted ourselves 

     with Spring's arrival.

Soon enough there will be warmth.

And Easter's promise.

This mean time is the hardest,

As we wait for change.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Joie de vivre ... Delight

Today's word is "joie de vivre" ... Zhwaduh VEE-vruh ... French. a delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of living. (Dictionary.com)

Delight

Life everlasting,

Brings us joie de vivre now!

God's grace is final.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Affinal ... Flame

Today's word is "affinal" ... a-FAHYN-l ... related by or concerning marriage. (Dictionary.com)

Flame

Degrees of love surely abound,

Parent to child and friend to friend,

True affinal affection fine,

And from God to man, there is no end.

But, no matter how much is spent,

Even through a life's long years,

The well of love is deep and pure,

And it's source is always near.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Smithereens ... Nuts

Today's word is "smithereens" ... smith-uh-REENZ ... small pieces; bits. (Dictionary.com)

Nuts!

Squirrels in the garden,

Just as bulbs peek,

They seek them to eat them,

Of which I now speak.

They bite off the tops,

Then leave them about,

Just smithereens ...

That's when I want to shout!

I wish they'd just eat them,

At least then I'd feel,

That I'd contributed,

To a squirrel meal.

So if it's tulips I want,

I must smile when I've seen,

Their beautiful petals,

In some magazine.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Renascent ... Bulbs

Today's word "renascent" ... ri-NAS-uh nt, -NEY-suh nt ... being reborn; springing again into being or vigor. (Dictionary.com)

Bulbs

This renascent earth,

Continually surprizes,

Welling songs of joy.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Disiccate ... Eyes

Today's word is "desiccate" ... DES-i-keyt ... to become thoroughly dried or dried up. (Dictionary.com)

Eyes

Look! A potato!

Desiccated, yet it lives ...

In water, leaves explode!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Amaranthine ... Petal

Today's word is "amaranthine" ... am-uh-RAN-thin, -thahyn ... unfailing; everlasting. (Dictionary.com)

Petal

Seems all beauty's fading,

Summer, winter, fall,

Though an amaranthine flower,

Should outlast them all.

We know our fragile breath,

Lasts but a moments here,

So fill your precious hours,

With love instead of fear.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Hibernian ... Erin

Today's word is "Hibernian" ... Hahy-BUR-nee-uh n ... of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland or its inhabitants; Irish. (Dictionary.com)

Erin

Hibernian green

On hats and socks and neckties,

Leprechaun's run wild!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Skulduggery ... Foolery

Today's word is "skulduggery" ... skuhl-DUHG-uh-ree ... dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery: bribery, graft, and other such skulduggery. an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick. (Dictionary.com)

Foolery

There's skulduggery afoot,

We're all aware it's true,

Yet we watch the circus,

From our screen-side view.

They shift positions swiftly,

With dodging steps and smiles,

Thinking we will go along,

With their foolish guile.

Soon the duels will be over,

And we'll live with choices made,

Hopefully these raucous nights,

Will into saneness fade.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Wordmonger ... Speech

Today's word is "wordmonger" ... WURD-mung-ger, -mong-, ... a writer or speaker who uses words pretentiously or with careless disregard for meaning. (Dictionary.com)

Speech!

You! Politician!

Keep the wordmongering down!

We'll watch your actions.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Apostasy ... Through

Today's word is "apostasy" ... uh-POS-tuh-see ... a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc. (dictionary.com)

Through

Heart and soul you believed it,

   Every word. Every phrase. Every song.

It was your life. You were whole. Complete.

And then, a tiny thought intruded.

     It came from a trusted source,

          A friend.

And somehow, it grew. And brought along

     more and more logic. More doubt.

Long-buried questions, unvoiced,

     were surprizingly answered.

A deep struggle began, tossing you

     this way. And that.

Panic raised its head. The mere contemplation

     of this apostasy, this turning,

          filled the air around with fear.

What would be lost in this transition? Who?

     And what would be found?

But you tenitively traveled this new road,

     immersed in new sights and sounds.

And one day, as you looked back, you discovered

     your footprints had vanished.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

     

Saturnine ... Hope

Today's word is "saturnine" ... SAT-er-nahyn ... sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn. Suffering from lead poisoning, as a person. (Dictionary.com)

Hope

Lent's nearly over,

Give up your saturnine ways.

Ressurrection's here!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Canoodle ... Skeedaddle

Today's word is "canoodle" ... kuh-NOOD-l ... Slang. to caress, fondle, or pet amorously. (Dictionary.com)

Skeedaddle

Soon the baby animals,

Will rise and face the sun,

They will dance and gambol,

They will hop and run.

We know just by their presence,

Some canoodling was done,

And soon these happy creatures,

Will with their beauty stun.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Psittacism ... Parrot

Today's word is "psittacism" ... SIT-uh-siz-uh m ... Mechanical, repetitive, and meaningless speech. (Dictionary.com)

Parrot

Heard you the first time.

Psittacism informs not ...

Speak truth with your heart.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Pinnate ... Green

Today's word is "pinnate" ... PIN-eyt, -it ... resembling a feather, as in construction or arrangement; having parts arranged on each side of a common axis: a pinnate branch; pinnate trees. (Dictionary.com)

Green

Longer days are warming earth,

Chasing frost away,

Urging bulbs to raise their heads,

The grass to come and stay.

Soon birds will welcome morning,

With songs both fine and fair,

Pinnate ferns unfurl their arms,

Filling forests bare.

Gratefully we'll shed our shoes,

Sandy beach beneath our toes,

We'll laugh and play in rolling waves,

Until the summer goes.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Catawampus ... Tilt

Today's word is "catawampus" ... kat-uh-WOM-puh s ... askew; awry. (Dictionary.com) Also cattywampus.

Tilt

The earth's off its axis,

Catawampus and dark,

Events upside down,

Each makes a mark.

But some lights are glowing,

Lit one to one,

Shining on corners,

Evil undone.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Isonomy ... Revision

Today's word is "isonomy" ... ahy-SON-uh-mee ... equality of political rights. (Dictionary.com)

Revision

Is there freedom ... 

Or isonomy for all?

New winds are blowing.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Autoschediasm ... Carols

Today's word is "autoschediasm" ... aw-toh-SKEE-Dee-az-uh m ... something that is improvised or extemporized. (Dictionary.com)

Carols

Bird song seems to be

Most autoschediastic.

Then patterns emerge.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Commodious ... Airborn

Today's word is "commodious" ... kuh-MOD-dee-uh s ... spacious and convenient; ample or adequate for a particular purpose: a commodious harbor. (Dictionary.com)

Airborn

We watch the osprey glide and cry,

They dive and reel and spill,

Through moss-hung trees, 'ore glass canals,

In the morning, chill.

To their homes commodious,

Balanced in the trees,

They take their scaly, piscine catch,

With grace and simple ease.

We, pontoon-bound, float far below,

Watching with astonished eyes, 

Knowing as the earthbound know,

We'll never, really fly.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Rupestrine ... Peer

Today's word is "rupestrine" ... roo-PES-trin ... Biology. living or growing among rocks. also, rupicolous ... Living along the edge of the riverbank. (Dictionary.com

Peer

Hidden at the water's edge,

His eyes stare coldly in the lilies,

A tiny plant rests on his nose,

Unbeknownst to him, he looks quite silly.

But as he lurks in waning sun,
Awaiting his rupestrine dinner.

Of all the fishes near him swimming,

He seems to know he'll be the winner.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Factotum ... Slave

Today's word is "factotum" ... fak-TOH-tuh m ... any employee or official having many different responsibilities. (Dictionary.com)

Slave

Have you ever wished,

For a factotum in your house,

To do the dishes, pay the bills,

And never ever grouse?

Ah! What freedom you would have,

To sleep in and be lazy.

You'd never have to cut the grass,

Or think when you were hazy.

But unless a butler shows up,

And says he'll work for free,

Chances are the chores are yours ... 

You may do them when you please!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Florilegium ... Turn

Today's word is "florilegium" ... flawr-uh-LEE-jee-uh m ... a collection of literary pieces; anthology. (Dictionary.com)

Turn

Surrounded by words,

On printed pages,

A florilegium open ...

The minds of the sages.

So welcome them in,

Invite them to stay,

Some implore to inhabit,

Some soon fly away.

The keepers will change you,

Without and within,

But you'll never know how,

Until you begin.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Rodomontade ... Speech

Today's word is "rodomontade" ... Rod-uh-mon-teyd ... Vainglorious boasting or bragging; pretentious, blustering talk. (Dictionary.com)

Speech
They're speaking their minds,
In rodomontade lines,
Not hiding behind old ghosts.

Putting points in your face,
Each one an ace,
Add them to paint a picture.

Deciding their fates,
As our own we create,
We can never quite see the future.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Rabble-rouser ... Loud

Today's word is "rabble-rouser" ... rab-uh l-rou-zer. A person who stirs up passions or prejudices of the people, usually for his or her own interests. Demagogue. (Dictionary.com)

Loud

Here's a common theme:

Rabble-rousers everywhere,

And not one will think.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016