Logophobia ... Live

Today's word is "logophobia" ... law-guh-FOH-bee-uh ... an obsessive fear of words. (Dictionary.com)

Live

We have so many fears,

Some imagined, and some real,

Fear of fur or bugs,

People, space or seals.

Some have logophobia,

Where certain words bring fright,

Or lygophobia exists,

For those afraid of night.

Better to have faith,

In God who reigns above,

To protect and guide,

With perfect grace and love.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Hallowed ...

Today's word is "hallowed" ... regarded as holy; venerated; sacred. (Dictionary.com)

Shine

A hallowed eve is coming,

Though you might not know,

By watching little goblins,

Running to and fro.

This is a new and different age,

But saints long ago,

Were revered; remembered,

With a day to make it so.

And the jack-o-lanterned night,

We celebrate with treats,

Ushers holy memories,

Which the morning after, greets.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Apparition ... Oooooooo!

Today's word is "apparition" ... ap-uh-RISH-uh n ... a supernatural appearance of a person or thing, especially a ghost; a specter or phantom. (Dictionary.com)

Oooooooo!

Black cats stroll the night,

Knock. Knock. Apparitions call,

Tricks or treats for you?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Enscorcell ... Twilight

Today's word is "enscorcell" ... en-SAWR-suh l ... to bewitch. (Dictionary.com)

Twilight

Look to the heavens,

Surely you'll be ensorcelled,

Owned by the starlight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Delectation ... Treats

Today's word is "delectation" ... dee-lek-TEY-shuh n ... delight; enjoyment. (Dictionary.com)

Treats

Blue sky, wispy clouds,
Crispy morning air,
Orange-red leaves are drifting,

'Round the garden stairs.

Squirrels, busy, gather,

Nuts for a winter meal,

Nothing we will do all day,

Can duplicate their zeal.

All these things are given,

For our delectation,

Delight upon unique delight,

Bursts forth from creation.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Lionize ... Roar

Today's word is "lionize" ... LaHY-uh-nahyz ... to treat (a person) as a celebrity. (Dictionary.com)

Roar
In this jungled world,

Some have the wildest dream,

To be chosen, lionized,

The best in nature's scheme.

There they would reign supreme,

And with ragged tooth and claw,

Demand that we obey,
What they deem to be law.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Soupbone ... Stew

Today's word is "soupbone" ... Baseball Slang. a pitcher's throwing arm. a bone used for making soup or broth. (Dictionary.com)

Stew

It's time for leaves to fall,

And blow windswept away,

For a soupbone in the pot,

Where in the house we'll stay.

As the colors change,

They leave barehanded trees

That wave in winter's chill,

Daring earth to freeze.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Compunction ... Bend

Today's word is "compunction" ... kuh m-PUHNGK-shuh n ... a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition. (Dictionary.com)

Bend

When does the weight of evil,

     bow the heart of hope?

How many deeds until

     lack of compunction startles?

What does it mean to the innocent,

     that they are also powerless,

          left to wonder what the future holds?

Will we, ever, see a return to wholeness,

     to truth and goodness?

Does the Spirit have a chance,

     when we, who should know better,

          put our fingers in our ears and

               close our eyes?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Thunderstruck ... Lightning

Today's word is "thunderstruck" ... THUN-der-struhk ... overcome with consternation; confounded; astounded. (Dictionary.com)

Lightning

We'll be thunderstruck,

At the end of our short lives ...
When truth is revealed.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Stalwart ... Hold

Today's word is "stalwart" ... STAWL-wert ... firm, steadfast, or uncompromising: a stalwart supporter. (Dictionary.com)

Hold

There used to be the stalwart ones,

Uncompromised and brave,

Who would stand for country,

Not crumble in dismay.

They fought battles, bitter,

Chaining tyranny's abuse,

Now we need to watch and pray,

So those demons don't get loose.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2015

Rollick ... Grateful

Today's word is "rollick" ... ROL-ik ... to move or act in a carefree, frolicsome manner; behave in a free, hearty, lively, or jovial way. (Dictionary.com)

Grateful

A long, gray day ends.

Sounds of rollicking laughter!

A birthday party!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Paroxysm ... Me

Today's word is "paroxysm" ... PAR-uh k-siz-uh m ... Any sudden, violent outburst; a fit of violent action or emotion. (Dictionary.com)

Me

Sometimes, they just get mad,

Those little, tiny beings,

They erupt in paroxysms,

And don't care who's seeing.

They stomp and wail with fervor,

They cry with giant tears,

They grab the thing they're after,

And annoy anyone who's near.

Big people also blow their cool,

(Though they may not let you see it)

After all, we might object,

To someone losing it, bit-by-bit.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Harum-scarum ...

Today's word is harum-sacrum ... HAIR-uh m-SKAIR-uh m ... reckless; rash; irresponsible. (Dictionary.com)

Duck

Yes, they're running harum-scarum,

And yes, we are just ahead,

Like the bulls with horns enormous,

Fears are coming, seeing red.

Duck down in the darkened alley,

Maybe their eyesight's not so hot,

But I've heard that fears are tricky,

Hard from our tired brains to blot.

If we can fairly navigate,

Fast and far or high or deep,

And fill our minds with better thoughts,

There'll be no place for them to creep.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Apotheosis ... Perceive

Today's word is "apotheosis" ... uh-poth-ee-OH-sis ... the ideal example; epitome; quintessence. (Dictionary.com)

Perceive

We can't quite see it ...

Our earthbound viewpoint's clouded.

Apotheosis.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Nudnik ... Bother

Today's word is "nudnik" ... NOO D-nik ... Slang. a persistently dull, boring pest. (Dictionary.com)

Bother

Oh! It's the nudnik again!

Do I answer the bell or pretend?

Do I go to the door or hide on the floor,

So his feelings I'll not likely offend?

If I let him in, he'll talk,

And won't get the hint that I'm busy,

He'll noodle away, and he will stay,

Until with frustration I'm dizzy.

My good self says to accept him,

Treat him as I'd like to be,

(Of course I'm not a pest, but one of the best,

Who would not like to be with me?)

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Lexicon ...

Today's word is "lexicon" ... LEX-si-kon ... the vocabulary of a particular language, field, social class person, etc. (dictionary.com)

Open

Long or short our words ...

At our speech they stare,

What is in your lexicon,

What is really there?

Do our words reveal,

Who we really are?

Do they expose our prejudice,

Our yearning or our scars?

What is deep within,

Will seep out through our skin,

And the truth of that,

Is where we must begin.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Ignominy ... Race

Today's word is "ignominy" ... IG-nun-min-ee ... disgrace; dishonor; public contempt. (Dictionary.com)

Race

Who will live on in ignominy?

Who will lose their place?

Whose world will change into,

An unrecognizable new space?

Who's hand will be stayed,

Brought to a sudden stop?

Just as their ambition,

Was headed for the top?

Someone will find glory,

Someone will taste disgrace,

The first one will go on,

To stare the future face to face.

Anne Selleck 

Copyright 2016

Mutable ...

Today's word is "mutable" ... MYOO-tuh-buh l ... given to changing; constantly changing; fickle or inconsistent. (Dictionary.com)

Fall
I can't trust that one ...
More mutable than fall leaves.
Weaving confusion.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Hinterland ... Ugh!

Today's word is "hinterland" ... HIN-ter-land ... Often, hinterlands. the remote or less developed parts of a country; back country. (Dictionary.com)

Ugh!

Run away to the hinterlands!

Where birds and animals play.

Where tvs do not wail.

Where silence reigns.

Sigh! Political noise.

Noise in my head.

Run away! Run away!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 3016

Opuscule ... Efforts

Today's word is "opuscule" ... oh-PUHS-kyool ... a small or minor work. (Dictionary.com)

Efforts
Building all those words,
Into many paragraphs.
Result: opuscule.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2016

Bailiwick ...

Today's word is "bailiwick" ... BEY-luh-wilk ... a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work. (Dictionary.com)

Corner

Why stay in one place?

Break from your bailiwick now!

Explore a new world.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Dilatory ... Trap

Today's word is "dilatory" ... DIL-uh-tawr-ree ... tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy. (Dictionary.com)

Trap

How does it happen,

When things seem fine,

A task appears,

That begins to unwind.

And other tasks seem,

To lift up their heads,

And think to themselves,

We too can spread.

And together they weave,

A web of destruction,

Which sticks to your resolve,

And stops your production.

So if you feel dilatory,

You're not really to blame,

Circumstances untamed,

Will tempt you to shame.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Stemwinder ... Fly

Today's word is "stemwinder" ... STEM-WAHYN-der ... Older Slang. a rousing speech, especially a stirring political address. (Dictionary.com)

Fly

We're waiting for a stemwinder,

To help make up our minds,

Someone who'll inspire,

Not put us in a bind.

Looking back and forth,

Between our choices here,

Might just make you nervous,

Might fill you full of fear.

But take the longer view,

We're here for just a blink,

We will live another day,

If we don't quit or shrink.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Stiver ... Mite

Today's word is "stiver" ... STAHY-ver ... the smallest possible amount. (Dictionary.com)

Mite

There was once a woman,

Old and bent of frame,

Who came to church one morning,

(Each Sunday was the same.)

She listened to the sermon,

She sang a song or two,

Then left a little stiver,

In the basket by her pew.

Jesus said this woman,

Gave more than all the rest,

Because she put in everything,

More than the very best.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Etymology ... Um

Today's word is "etymology" ... Et-uh-MOL-uh-jee ... the derivation of a word. (Dictionary.com).

Um

Where did that word come from?

It's etymology's not clear.

But if you want to know,

A special dictionary's near.

This book will show you everything,

About that word's first birth,

Which is more than you can say,

Of all of us on earth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Mavourneen ... Grace

Today's word is "mavourneen" ... muh-VOO R-neen ... Irish English. darling; dear. (Dictionary.com)

Grace

Oh so fortunate ... 

To be someone's mavourneen!

Loved beyond measure.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Deleterious ... Howl

Today's word is "deleterious" ... del-i-TEER-ee-uh s ... harmful; injurious. (dictionary.com)

Howl

The wind is up,

The waves whisper,

   "It's coming"

Warnings flutter through

     Tvs, radios, the internet,

          gossip.

The deleterious cyclone

     spins its secret 

          ever closer.

Its eye on its targets ...

      We board and nail,

          then run away.

Leaving the earth

     to fend for itself.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

     

Potboiler ... Perform

Today's word is "potboiler" ... POT-boi-ler ... a mediocre work of literature or art produced merely for financial gain. (Dictionary.com)

Perform

Ah, to have the talent,

To paint, or sing, or dance,

To create an open space,

Where light can have a chance.

Interest comes with elegance,

Potboilers have their place,

One can learn from a charlatan,

As well as from an ace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Druthers ... Whoosh

Today's word is "druthers" ... Informal. one's own way, choice, or preference. (Dictionary.com)

Whoosh

My druthers don't count.

Travel to my goal is slow!

Beam me up, Scottie!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Understory ... Eeek!!!

Today's word is "understory" ... UHN-der-stour-ee ... the shrubs and plants growing beneath the main canopy of a forest. (Dictionary.com)

Eeek!!!

What is going on there ...

In the understory,

Where we cannot see,

Each tiny creature's glory?

Enlarged to human size,

Their complexity's a wonder,

Multi-colored and segmented,

Their calls would sound like thunder!

So we can be grateful,

That we are gigantic,

Or we would often find ourselves,

Running wild and frantic!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016

Amphiboly ... What?

Today's word is "amphiboly" ... am-FIB-uh-lee ... ambiguity of speech, especially from uncertainty of the grammatical construction rather than of the meaning of the words. (Dictionary.com)

What?

Though you are intelligent,

In control of all your senses,

You can be confused by others,

And their use of tenses.

Or sometimes their amphiboles,

Will make you stop and think,

Was that man just thirsty ...

Or did they find him in the drink?

Making ourselves understood,

Is difficult at best,

Without mysterious grammar,

To cause us undo stress.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2016