Prink ... Reflect

Today's word is "prink" ... Pringk ... to fuss over one's dress, especially before the mirror. to deck oneself out. (Dictionary.com)

Reflect

How much of our life is spent,

Before the mirror prinking?

Fixing up the good we have,

Beauty and favor linking.

But if our truths all were told,

And the inside plainly seen,

Grace might be enough for us,

And there'd be no need to preen.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Woodnote ... Tred

Today's word is "woodnote" ... WOO D-not ... wild or natural musical tone, as that of a forest bird.(dictionary.com)

Tred

Through the newly spring,

We wander with no end,

Listening for woodnotes,

Or sight of doe around the bend.

Trillium are thinking,

Of up-coming from their deeps,

Squirrels rustle high above,

Their babies in their keeps.

All around life quivers,

Groans and labors long,

To repeat the pattern,

That sings within it strong.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Gonzo ... Look!

Today's word is "gonzo" ... GON-zo ... (of journalism, reportage, etc.) Adjective.  filled with bizarre or subjective ideas, commentary, or the like. crazy; eccentric. Noun: eccentricity, weirdness, or craziness. (Dictionary.com)

Look!

Media's frenzied,

Gone gonzo with excitement,

Throws us the pieces.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Amanuensis ... Helpers

Today's word is "amanuensis" ... uh-man-yoo-EN-sis ... a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another; secretary. (Dictionary.com)

Helpers

Everybody needs a hand,

Even when there's no excuse,

A chauffeur or a tailor,

An amanuensis or masseuse.

They all have skills of some kind,

To drive, sew, relax or write,

They're handy when you need them,

In a pinch when things are tight.

But the best of skills,

Are free just for the giving,

A listening ear in time of trouble,

Grace for daily living.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Puckish ... Concert

Today's word is "puckish" ... PUHK-ish ... mischievous; impish (dictionary.com)

Concert

They're very small and bouncy,

These children two and three,

They're dressed in all their finery,

Like thespians should be.

They're ready to perform now,

With all their puckish charm,

Although a small percentage,

Might be viewed with some alarm.

Like the one who's playing,

With his shirt up on his head,

Or the little girl in front,

Mute as if sleeping in her bed.

But they are still tiny,

And not prepared for fame,

And that's just as well,

We're still glad we came.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Flivver ... Broken

Today's word "flivver" ... FLIV-er ... Older Slang. an automobile, especially one that is small, inexpensive, and old. Slang. something of unsatisfactory quality or  inferior grade. (Dictionary.com)

Broken

Once I owned a flivver,

A green VW,

Some things seemed to work,

Most had gone askew.

The lights sometimes went out,

When driving in the dark,

And the wipers stuttered,

As they traced their arc.

It was worst in winter,

When the heater gasped it's last,

But now I have a car that works,

And that one's in the past!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Alfresco ... Nuts

Today's word is "alfresco" ... al-FRES-koh ... Out-of-doors; in the open air: to dine alfresco. (Dictionary.com)

Nuts

Spring has finally sprung,

Forsythia blooms yellow,

Underneath the feeder,

Sits a fuzzy fellow.

He's enjoying dining

Alfresco in the trees,

Although he's very wary,

And may quickly flee.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Yom tov ... Anticipate

Today's word is "yom tov" ... YUHN tuh v, tuh f ... Yiddish and Hebrew. holiday. (Dictionary.com)

Anticipate

Sometimes in the dead of winter,

When any yom tov's far away,

My mind imagines palms and oceans,

On which it pines and longs and stays.

When summer comes in finery,

And warm days are, it seems, unmeasured,

I take for granted placid hours,

Instead of counting each one's treasure.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Biota ... Signature

Today's word is "biota" ... Bahy-OH-tuh ... the animals, plants, fungi, etc. of a region or period. (Dictionary.com)

Signature

Robins and white pines,

In Michigan's biota,

Sign serenity.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Gimcrack ... Consumer

Today's word is "gimcrack" ... JIM-krak ... Showy but useless. (Dictionary.com)

Consumer

I really don't need anything,

I tell myself most days,

I am perfectly content,

In my house to stay.

Then I go out to the mall,

To pick up something small,

And pass gimcrack temptations,

Hanging on the walls.

I know that I can't live without,

That one that sparkles so,

I'll have something extra soon,

Before I homeward go.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Esemplastic ... Spiral

Today's word is "esemplastic" ... Es-em-PLAS-tik ... having the ability to shape diverse elements or concepts into a unified whole: the esemplastic power of a great mind to simplify the difficult. (Dictionary.com)

Spiral
The earth circles around the sun,
With her sister spheres,
They reside within this galaxy,
Billions of them cohere.

The numbers explode and multiply,
God's esemplastic mind enfolds,
Only his immensity,
Contains these mysteries untold.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Hoi polloi ... Choice

Today's word is "hoi polloi" ... HOI puh-LOI ... the common people; the masses (often preceded by the).

Choice

The world is changing quickly,

And we should have a say,

Just 'cause we're the hoi polloi,

Doesn't mean we've gone astray.

Some values are worth saving,

As well we the people know,

And we would like the chance,

To tell those in power so.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Pecuniary ... Fifteenth

Today's word is "pecuniary" ... pi-KYOO-nee-er-ee ... Of or relating to money. (Dictionary.com)

Fifteenth

This would be a special day,

Of pecuniary trial,

When we get taxed on all our pay,

And must by midnight file.

If we're lucky, we'll still have,

Some money for the rent,

And groceries and clothing,

Before the rest is spent!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Somaticize ... Relax

Today's word is "somaticize" ... suh-MAT-uh-sahyz ... Psychiatry. to convert (anxiety) into physical symptoms. (Dictionary.com)

Relax

A sore throat, a cough, a cold,

A back that's aching weekly,

Tingling in your hands and feet,

Tears from your eyes are leaking.

But, these things somaticized,

Point to stresses building,

Too many things to do each day,

Every single hour filling.

Take a breath, then two, then three.

Close your eyes in rest,

Make peace your goal to satisfy,

And peace your only quest.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Endemic ... Clues

Today's word is "endemic" ... en-DEM-ik ... natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous:endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic. (Dictionary.com)

Clues

Is it not endemic,

For a people so in love,

That every act and sentence

Should be gentle, like a dove?

And with wisdom close at hand,

Are not those people wise,

Not easily deceived,

Not given into pride?

And with truth in heart,

Won't they with courage speak,

Though their God has promised,

His kingdom to the meek?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Wafflestompers ... Trees

Today's word is "wafflestompers" ... WOF-uh l-stom-perz ... ankle boots with ridged soles, used especially for hiking. (Dictionary.com)

Trees

Once we walked in mountains smoky,

Twenty or so brave campers,

Down through rhododendron paths,

Where the ground squirrels scamper.

We hiked for almost seven days,

And slept in a giant tent,

Our wafflestompers beat the trail,

Blisters followed where we went.

It was an adventure for us all,

And when it was done,

We were content with our conquest,

The challenge and the fun.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Miche ... Run

Today's word is "miche" ... mich ... To lurk out of sight. (Dictionary.com)

Run
In the story of little red,
(Who's grandmother's sick in bed),
The wolf is miching behind trees,
Hoping that he'll not be seen.

I'm not certain the moral here,
Red seems to be full of sappy cheer,
The grandma's ready for her treat,
And the wolf will soon be on her street.

I suppose that in the end,
You should be careful to befriend,
Only wolves who don't wear bonnets,
And don't frequent tales or sonnets.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Avuncular ... Kin

Today's word is "avuncular" ... uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler ... of or relating to, or characteristic of an uncle:avuncular affection. (Dictionary.com)

Kin
In the realm of relatives,
There just might be a case,
Of an uncle not avuncular,
Or an auntie out of place.

Sometimes people fail their roles,
Like brothers most unbrotherly,
Or a sister who'd disown you,
Or a mom who is unmotherly.

So if you're fortunate to find,
People in your family,
Who act their parts and love you too,
Bless this joyous rarity.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Ossify ... Burst

Today's word is "ossify" ...  OS-uh-fahy ... to convert into or cause to harden like bone. (Dictionary.com)

Burst

New wine in old skins,

Now open up the flood gates!

Break the ossified!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Fuliginous ... Break

Today's word is "fuliginous" ... fyoo-LIJ-uh-nuh s ... sooty; smoky. (Dictionary.com)

Break

Winter's white gives way.

Fuliginous foothills

Sing with verdant joy.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Namby-pamby ... Phony

Today's word is "namby-pamby" ... NAM-bee-PAM-bee ... lacking in character, directness, or moral or emotional strength: namby-pamby writing. (Dictionary.com)

Phony

Why doesn't he just speak his mind,

His namby-pamby ways are weak,

If he could find little spark,

He wouldn't look so meek.

What is he afraid of now?

Losing all his fame?

Destroying what little's left,

Of his unimportant game?

But it's too late to change his ways,

He's written them in stone,

He'll have to face that fact someday,

When he's all alone.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Majuscule ... Fuel

Today's word is "majuscule" ... MAJ-uh-skyool ... large, as either capital or uncial letters. (dictionary.com)

Fuel

The boy and I chose to rhyme,

The great word majuscule,

The only word I could think to use,

Was one I learned in school.

But the boy suggested further,

We could rhyme with the word pool,

And in that water we could place,

A silly little fool.

Then the words came fast and sure,

Like cool and duel and mule,

And more until the pool was filled,

With tool and cool and yule.

Which just goes to show you,

Two heads uncrowned by jewels,

Can think up lots of silly rhymes,

If there are no rules.

Anne Selleck

Jeremy Selleck

Copyright 2016

Raconteuse ... Crowned

Today's word is "raconteuse" ... rak-uh n-TOOZ ... a woman who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly. (Dictionary.com)

Crowned

All princess secrets,

The tiny reconteuse knows.

She tells every one.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Ersatz ... Release

Today's word is "ersatz" ... ER-zahts ... serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial: an ersatz coffee made from grain. (Dictionary.com)

Release

This winter's hand will not let go,

It reaches, grasps and clings,

Icy fingers pull at our sleeves,

Allowing only an ersatz spring.

How these days frustrate us so,

As we long for breezes warm,

And bird's bright songs of joyfullness,

Or rush of thunderstorm.

Patience is by this hard time made,

As we long for a silver lining,

We try to smile and carry on,

While for light and life we're pining.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Contretemps ... Wend

Today's word is "contretemps" ... KON-truh-tahn ... An inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance: He caused a minor contretemps by knocking over his drink. (Dictionary.com)

Wend

In this broken world,

With contretemps unending,

We try to make our way around,

Without the rules bending.

And as we go we wonder,

How to right those wrongs,

But know our crooked hearts,

Need someone who is strong.

Perhaps in some far time,

When all has been revealed,

We will find the grace,

To thank the one who heals.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Tonsorial ... Trim

Today's word is "tonsorial" ... ton-SAWR-eye-uh l ... of or relating to a barber or barbering. (Dictionary.com)

Trim

There was a man that I once knew,
Who loved all things tonsorial,

He studied under the striped pole,

The art of hair pictorial.

He loved to sing in a quartet,

With barbering harmonies,

His future set before him,
With his friends in company.

But his dream he could not hold,
And he failed the final test,
His very quirky character,
Separated him from the best.

Yet in his mind, in fantasy,
He relives his long-gone past,
With a sad and lonely hope,
That will be his 'til the last.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016