Mugwump ...

Today's word is "mugwump" ... MUHG-wump ... a person who is unable to make up his or her mind on an issue, especially in politics; a person who is neutral on a controversial issue. (Dictionary.com)

Listen
In this very strange time,
One could be forgiven,
For being a bit mugwuppian,
Without a touch of vision.

The issues fly most furious,
With hype on every side,
Exaggeration's normal,
On this crazy, wild ride.

But soon enough we know,
Decisions must be made,
Until that moment's come,
We'll watch the word parade.

Anne Selleck 
Copyright 2016

Doughty ... Serve

Today's word is "doughty" ... DOU-tee ... steadfastly courageous and resolute; valiant. (Dictionary.com)

Serve

This is the day memorial,

When we mourn the brave,

The doughty ones in war,

Who served and fought and gave.

No high honor is enough,

For such a costly gift,

Given freely to their country,

The rest of us to lift.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Metanoia ... Surrender

Today's word is "metanoia" ... met-uh-NOI-uh ... a profound, usually spiritual, transformation; conversion. (Dictionary.com)

Surrender

From deep darkness into light,

From the selfish to the good,

(That clinging care for only self),

Now metanoia's understood.

From the ravaged to the woven,

Fear and pain to healing's peace,

Terror turned to calm prevailing,

From confusion to release.

This the promise of forgiveness,

This the joy of given grace,

In the arms of love's revealing,

Rest and purpose interlace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Colophon ... Trace

Today's word is "colophon" ... KOL-uh-fon ... a publisher's or printer's distinctive emblem, used as an identifying device on its books and other works. (Dictionary.com)

Trace

From the moment we arrive,

     we are unique,

All differentiated, yet barring,

     like a colophon, our maker's mark.

We are like him, enlightened spirits,

     made of energy and the dust of stars;

          designed to shine.

Until we take ourselves seriously,

     as seriously as our creator,

          we will not see ourselves

               as we are seen.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Fard ... Finale

Today's word is "fard" ... fahrd ... Archaic. to apply cosmetics to (the face). facial cosmetics. (Dictionary.com)

Finale

In the realm invisible,

   there is no way to fard

         your countenance ...

              (If you have one.)

There is only the remainder,

     the core of what you have become,

through all your wanderings,

     and decisions made.

And the only things worth remembering,

     (or saving) are those acts of love 

      performed, when you were not aware

                 that you had done anything at all.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Zoogenic ... Creatures

Today's word is "zoogenic" ... zoh-uh-JEN-ik ... Produced or caused by animals. pertaining to animal development or evolution. (Dictionary.com)

Creatures

Looking at results,

Zoogenically caused,

What about humans?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016 

Hypnagogic ... Patter

Today's word is "hypnagogic" ... hip-nuh-GOJ-ik ... of or relating to drowsiness. inducing drowsiness. (Dictionary.com)

Patter
First comes thunder from afar,
Grumbling disapproval low,
Warning as it lumbers on,
Of an impending lightning show.

A tiny breeze begins to blow,
Then sashays through leaves and grass,
Til branches quiver high above,
Responding to her windy sass.

The first platoon of droplets lands,
Creating their own puddles, small,
Creatures head for nests and holes,
And for buildings safely walled.

Once inside, protected, warm,
We sudden know what we have found,
In the rythmn of hypnagogic rain,
We are all, by nature bound.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Gormless ... Oportunity

The word today is "gormless" ... GAWRM-lis ... Chiefly British Informal. lacking in vitality or intelligence; stupid, dull, or clumsy. (Dictionary.com)

Opportunity

Perception is most everything,

And if one is labeled gormless,

There will be little he can do,

With personality near formless.

But those with intelligence to spare,

Might use some compassion,

And have mercy on the broken ones,

Though it may seem out of fashion.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Jimjams ... Quiver

Today's word is "jimjams" ... JIM-jamz ... Slang. extreme nervousness; jitters. (Dictionary.com)

Quiver

Standing up in front,

With pairs of stares regarding ...

Begins the jimjams.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Dulcinea ... Redeemed

Today's word is "dulcinea" ... duhl-SIN-ee-uh ... a lady love; sweetheart. (Dictionary.com)

Redeemed

She believed her life,

Could never, ever change,

No matter what she did,

Or what she rearranged.

All the wrong decisions,

Made from year to year,

Gathered into hopelessness,

A dearth of love or cheer.

But then when least expected,

A stranger came her way,

Beheld his dulcinea in her,

And would win her, come what may.

He told of her beauty,

Of body and of soul,

For the first time she believed,

Even she could be made whole.

Anne Selleck

Cooyright

Complaisant ... Pause

Today's word "complaisant" ... kuh m-PLEY-suh nt ... inclined or disposed to please; obliging; agreeable or gracious; compliant. (Dictionary.com)

Pause

He was complaisant,

Though chaos reigned around him.

Peace was his password.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Inspissate ... Go

Today's word is "inspissate" ... in-SPIS-eyt ... to thicken, as by evaporation; make or become dense. (Dictionary.com)

Go

We watched as clouds inspissated,

Hung in rows above the hills,

Daring all weary travelers,

To their eyes wondrously fill.

The cool rough road meandered up,

Up, up and away,

To a mysterious vanishing,

That might portend delay.

The trek challenged this late hour,

And through us caution sent,

But staying in the doldrums,

Promised no sure content.

So, we set out toward the hills,

One step at a time,

And were greeted at the summit,

With a satisfaction fine.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Furphy ... What?

For anyone who has tried to coment on this blog (and wondering where the comment went) replying in the e-mail edition won't show up and I won't know you are trying to communicate! You have to go to theartofanne.blogspot.com and reply by hitting "comment" at the end of the post. Sorry, wish it was easier!!! Anyhow ...

Today's word is "furphy" ... FUR-fee ... Australian. a false report; rumor. (Dictionary.com)

What?
In the whirl of nightly news,
Furphys fly with ease,
Out of the many talking heads,
Who are only out to please.

They really want good ratings,
So everything is an alert,
Even boring moments,
That leave one most inert.

It always makes me wonder,
If like the boy who wolf did call,
That an event momentous,
Might on deaf ears fall.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Embonpoint ... Oui

For all you French speakers out there ... ?? Hello? Yeah, me neither, and I took it for three years in high school! Today's word is "embonpoint" ... ahn-brawn-PWAN. Excessive plumpness; stoutness. (Just do the best you can. I don't ever expect to hear this word again!!)(Dictionary.com)

Oui

They say that we are embonpoint.

(True of many that I know.)

That we should really walk for hours,

(I do sometimes, for show.)

They say that we should eat far less,

Of cholesterol and fat.

But I say we should eat it all.

What do you think of that?

I can't depend upon the ones,

Who give advice for money,

Who sell us products they've invented,

From chemicals whose names sound funny.

I think I'll stick to all the things,

That God invented first.

I think he knew exactly what,

Would quench our hunger and our thirst.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Panjandrum ... Great

Today's word is "panjandrum" ... pan-JAN-druh-m ... a self-important or pretentious official. (Dictionary.com)

Great
In the light of day,
The panjandrum holds sway,
Pronouncing all that's good,
Seen in his own way.

Never worrying,
About the small man near,
Or what he may be thinking,
Or what he holds most dear.

From his fearsome height,
It's difficult to see,
Far beneath the clouds,
Where he used to be.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Botryoidal ... Blah

Today's word is "botryoidal" ... bo-tree-OID-l ... Mineralogy. having the form of. Bunch of grapes: Botryoidal hematite. (Dictionary.com)

Blah

Purple, not juicy.

Botryoidal minerals,

Do not satisfy.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Gaucherie ... Hmmm

Today's word is "gaucherie" ... goh-shuh-REE ... lack of social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkwardness; crudeness; tactlessness. (Dictionary.com)

Hmmm

Would some gaucherie,

Prevent your admiration,

Of good decisions?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Forthwith ... Done

Today's word is "forthwith" ... fawrth-WITH ... immediately; at once; without delay. (Dictionary.com)

Done

You must go to bed forthwith,

To function well tomorrow,

If you stay up an hour more,

You'll awaken with great sorrow.

Your head will fill with cotton,

Your eyes will blurry see,

Everything that's simple,

Will no longer seem to be.

So give it up; turn off that screen,

Ready yourself for bed,

Tomorrow's hours are quite enough,

For you to get a step ahead.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Trophic ...

Today's word is "trophic" ... TROF-ik ... of or relating to nutrition; concerned in nutritive processes.

Search

Reading all the labels,

Hoping for a trophic treat,

It seems there's only fake food,

Up and down the street.

All the food that's worthy,

Lies in the outside aisles,

Once eaten, all those whole foods,

Will surely make you smile.

Don't be tempted by the packages,

The colors and the spin,

What's inside is not worth as much,

As the cardboard that it's in.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Obviate ... Drops

So, today is my 1,000th post! What started out as an exercise and experiment, has turned into a habit and an obsession. The question is, do I continue? Right now, I don't think I can stop. So here goes one more:

Today's word is "obviate" ... OB-vee-eyt ... to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary.

Oh, and today is national limerick day😁

Drops

There once was a smart man from Spain,

Who always got caught in the rain,

To obviate a great soaking,

His head he was poking
Under umbrellas to protect his brain.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Eldritch ... Help!

Today's word is "eldritch" ... EL-drich ... eerie; weird; spooky. (Dictionary.com)

Help
The most eldritch thing,
Is no communication.
The internet's out!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Cunctator ... Later

Today's word is "cunctator" ... kuhngk-TEY-ter ... a procrastinator; delayer. (Dictionary.com)

Later

Says the cunctator,

Tomorrow is my future.

Day of reckoning.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Larruping ... Respite

Today's word is "larruping" ... LAR-uh-ping ... Chiefly Western U.S. Very; exceedingly: That was a larruping good meal. (Dictionary.com)

Respite

Sometimes after cooking,

For days unnumbered in a row,

We want a larruping good dinner,

And perhaps a movie show.

Our need for entertainment,

Seems to have no end,

Every moment filled with motion,

As through our days we wend.

Is this a call for sabbath?

For quiet and repose?

A little practice with some silence,

Might our spirits grow.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Oenomel ... Possessed

Today's word is "oenomel" ... EE-nuh-mel ... something combining strength with sweetness. (Dictionary.com)

Possessed

An oenomel fine ...

A mother's love for her child,

Unbidden ... unbound.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Quaff ... Lifelong

Today's word is "quaff" ... kwof, kwaf ... to drink a beverage, copiously and with hearty enjoyment. (Dictionary.com)

Lifelong

I have never understood,

The allure of smoky spaces,

Where the rule is spirits quaffed,

And friends sit only in those places.

Rather, I would be with those,

Who gather at more than one venue,

Sharing lives at intersections,

That declare their friendship true.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Turpitude ... Examine

Today's word is "turpitude" ... TUR-pi-tood ... vile, shameful, or base character; depravity. (Dictionary.com)

Examine

How do we see inside the skin,

Past the words so stunning,

To see if there's some turpitude,

From which we should be running.

When what they say is sparkling,

With hope for a future bright,

It's tempting to be taken in,

To give up without a fight.

Trust instead in the Eternal,

Proven through the ages,

That you might be counted,

Among the saints and sages.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Margaritaceous ...

Today's word is "margaritaceous" ... mahr-ger-i-TEY-shuh s ... resembling mother-of-pearl; pearly. (Dictionary.com)

Mom

The best buttons shine,

With margaritaceous light,

On a beige sweater.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Toponym ... Home

Today's word is "toponym" ... TOP-uh-nim ... a place name. a name derived from the name of a place. (Dictionary.com)

Home

On certain occasions,

A toponym is true,

Such as the name Grand Haven ...

One of a very few.

There are beaches all around,

And water of all kinds,

Little shops and restaurants,

In which you can unwind.

There are trails to walk on,

And piers and boats and more,

Concerts in the summer,

Nothing that will bore.

I feel very fortunate,

To live in this fine place,

It is a safe harbor,

That's easy to embrace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

"

Snuggery ... Safe

Today's word is "snuggery" ... SNUHG-uh-ree ... British. a comfortable or cozy room. (Dictionary.com)

Safe

Do you wish for peace,

Far from the wild pace

Of worldly things and noise,

A snuggery beyond the race?

If our earthly plane,

Does not provide this gift.

We must shape it then,

With a heavenly shift.

Inside each mind a spark,

Of eternal bliss does burn,

Listen to it speak,

Peace within it yearns.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Jeremiad ... Fussbudget

Today's word "jeremiad" ... Jerry-uh-MAHY-uh d ... a prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint. (Dictionary.com)

Fussbudget

There's a racket at the feeder,

A jeremiad of discontent,

A loud and squirrelly admonition,

As he wonders where his snacks all went.

He'd bite the hand that feeds him,

Not knowing the connection,

Between that generous appendage,

And his next crunchy confection.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Tulipomania ... Bud

Today's word is "Tulipomania" ... too-luh-puh-MUY-nee-uh ... (In 17th century Holland) a widespread obsession with tulips, especially of highly prized varieties, as those of a streaked, variegated, or unusual color. (Dictionary.com)

Bud
Gardening panic,
Like Tulipomania,
Begins with beauty.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016