Auld Lang syne ... Tick

Today’s word is “auld lang syne” ... awld lang zahyn ... Scot. and North England. old times, especially times fondly remembered. (Dictionary.com)

Tick
Only moments now,
Before Auld Lang Syne is sung,
And people dance the past away,
As New Year’s bells are rung.

All around the earth,
Hope on hearts, alights,
Joy replacing faceless fear,
Regrets forgotten in their flight.

Now comes resolution,
To be better than we are,
Knowing well our weakness,
Will soon our promise mar.

We cannot right our wrongs,
Or guess what course is best,
But must rely on God’s own truth,
For forgiveness and true rest.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Whoop-de-do ... Yippie!

Today’s word is “whoop-de-do” ... hoop-de-doo ... Informal. lively and noisy festivities; merrymaking. (Dictionary.com)

Yippee!

It comes down to this.

The old is gone. The new comes!

Start the whoop-de-doo!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bedizen ... Airborn

Today’s word is “bedizen” ... bih-dahy-Zuker n ... to dress or adorn in a showy, gaudy, or tasteless manner. (Dictionary.com)

Airborn

We wait between.

     The bedizened Christmas tree

           sparkles through the last days

                 of its glory.

     The new year is not yet born,

          though we feel it’s labor pains.

We dream here of a savior born,

     humbling us with his coming.

We dream of what we will do

     with the hours and hours 

           which tantalize us with hope.

But in this until time,

     snow falls, candles burn.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Tabernacle ... Still

Today’s word is “tabernacle” ... tab-er-nak-uh l ... any place or house of worship, especially designed for a large congregation. (Dictionary.com)

Still
Where is this tabernacle,
Of which you sweetly speak?
Around the corner, near the park ...
Is it for the strong or meek?

Can anyone approach its door?
Or must one be a saint?
Should we check our foibles,
And bow without complaint?

What? You say this holy place,
Is inside every soul?
And God resides here with us,
To guide and make us whole?

Then sweep out the cornered cobwebs!
Wash out the dirt and grime!
Light the candles and rejoice!
And let his heart be mine!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 201

Pinguid ... Dig

Today’s word is “pinguid” ... ping-gwid ... fat; oily. (Dictionary.com)

Dig

Ah! Delicacy!

Pinguid piggies poke the mud,

Searching for truffles.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Afterglow ... Grateful

Today’s word is “afterglow” ... af-ter-gloh ... the pleasant remembrance of a past experience etc.; the glow frequently seen in the sky after sunset; afterlight. (Dictionary.com)

Grateful

Good memories wait,

     a picture album, invisible,

Ready with open pages whenever

     we turn to them ...

An afterglow of happiness,

     at hand when love’s comfort

          seems small.
A melancholy remberance,
     when all of life has changed.
And we have a hand, 
     though we don’t believe it,
          in creating this beautiful past.
Minute by minute, we sketch
     the outlines, fill in the colors,
          frame the minutes.
Ready for the halls and walls
     we call our lives.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Yule ... Incarnate

Today’s word is “Yule” ... yool ... Christmas, or the Christmas season. (Dictionary.com)

Incarnate

Yule is nearly over,

And yet, it’s just begun,

The babe was born for all of us,

The always-living son.

Each day going forward,

As way leads onto way,

We are all upheld by grace,

Which burst forth on this day.

Stay open to the whispers,

You hear within your heart,

We’re in touch with mysteries,

Of which we’re all a part.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Propine ... Coronation

Today’s word is “propine” ... proh-peen ... Scot. to offer as a present. Scot. a present; gift. (Dictionary.com)

Coronation 

To the little baby then,

The wise ones did propine,

Honors forshadowing his life,

To parents sheltered mean.

Precious gold and frankincense,

Sorrowing, saddening myrrh,

Given for king, priest and sacrifice,

As prophecy and cure.

And humbly this king did live,

Blazing with his father’s light,

Loving, he gives himself away,

To shame the dark of night.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Blithesome ... Beam

Today’s word is “blithesome” ... blahyth -such m ... lighthearted; merry; cheerful. (Dictionary.com)

Beam

Light has broken darkness,

Sins blotted from our lives,

Hope replacing mourning,

We are left to thrive.

If this news of goodness,

Gives no blithesome bliss,

We do not fully understand,

Consequences missed.

So watch the stars of evening,

For the brightest one,

It will announce the savior,

The one and only son.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Abubble ... Listen

Today’s word is “abubble” ... uh-buhb-uh l ... characterized by intense enthusiasm or activity. (Dictionary.com)

Listen

Santa’s coming soon.

Sparkling eyes are abubble ...

Sugar plums and secrets.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Brumal ... Whirl

Today’s word is “brumal” ... broo-muh l ... wintry. (Dictionary.com)

Whirl

On the best of brumal nights,

Are thoughts of hearth and fire glow,

Hopes for gifts and feasting,

And safety from the chilly blow.

The warmth of friends and family,

Wrap us outside and within,

Bringing joyful feelings,

Which ‘round about us spin.

Summer nights are wonderous,

And fall brings its own charms,

But only winter evenings,

Comfort us in sheltered arms

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017 

Facepalm ... Peep

Today’s word is “facepalm” ... Fey’s-pahm ... the gesture of placing the palm of one’s hand across the face, as to express embarrassment, frustration, disbelief, etc. (dictionary.com)

Peep

Such embarrassment!

A facepalm the solution.

Hidden in plain sight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Daily-breader ... Weekend

Today’s word is “daily-breader” ... dey-lee-bred-er ... British. a commuter. (Dictionary.com)

Weekend

Once upon a time,

I was a daily breader,

For years and years and ...

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Flocculent ... Vision

Today’s word is “flocculent” ... flok-yuh-luh nt ... like a clump or tuft of wool. (Dictionary.com)

Vision

Gathering gloom,

Dark flocculent sky,

Moon looking for footprints,

From those who walk by.

Snow on the ground,

Chill in the air,

Only one star,

Leading the dare.

Three patient wise ones,

Following it’s light,

Hoping for one king,

To ease the earth’s plight.

They found him in time,

As do all who seek,

It’s a journey for strong ones,

Not for the weak.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bagatelle ... Slip

Today’s word is “bagatelle” ... bag-uh-tel ... something of little value or importance; a trifle. (dictionary.com)

Slip
One little snowflake,
A bagatelle small,
Teeniest nothing,
Crystalline fall.

It slips through the air,
Unnoticed by most,
And will soon vanish,
With nothing to boast.

But snowflakes appear,
In winter’s delight,
Crowding the thin air,
A wonderous sight.

In their abundance,
They dance and they spin,
Hiding their power,
In magical skin.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Apopemptic ... HoHoHo

Today’s word is “apopemptic” ... ap-uh-pemp-tik ... pertaining to leave-taking or departing. (Dictionary.com)

HoHoHo
Santa boards his sleigh.
With an apopemptic wave,
He changes the world.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Tidings ... Hear

Today’s word ... we’ll actually yesterday’s .... but oh well ... is “tidings” ... tahy-dingz ... news, information, or intelligence. (Dictionary.com)

Hear

News! News! 

Hide, there’s too much news!

It beckons and it screams,

From every screen it spews!

And how much of it’s good?

A very small percent,

Making us all scratch our heads,

Wondering where it went!

Somewhere in this day and age,

Must be an amazing tale,

That could make us dance and sing,

Instead of moan and wail!

In fact, there are glad tidings,

From long ago, away,

Of a holy baby,

Laid in a bed of hay.

And he looks today,

Upon all of this world,

Offering his grace and love,

As angel wings unfurl.

What? You cannot see him?

Then in the silence, listen,

He still speaks to restless hearts.

As soft snow falls and glistens.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Mishpocha ... Belong

Today’s word is “mishpocha” ... mish-paw-khuh ... Yiddish. an entire family network comprising relatives by blood and marriage and sometimes including close friends; clan. (Dictionary.com)

Belong

All the mishpocha,

Gathered for great fellowship.

Here the true heartland.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Deasil ... Compass

Today’s word is “deasil” ... dee-Zuni l ... Chiefly Scot. clockwise or in a direction following the apparent course of the sun: considered as lucky or auspicious. (Dictionary.com)

Compass

It’s all about direction,

And where you want to go,

Walking counter-wise or deasil,

Or just going with the flow.

You will need a compass,

Or a divining rod,

A sextant for the ocean,

Or the words of God.

The instrument or method,

And the path you take,

Will be revealed in the end,

To be truth or mistake.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Wanderjahr ... Sigh

Today’s word is “wanderjahr” ... vahn-duh- r-yahr” ... German. a year or period of travel, especially following one’s schooling and before practicing a profession. (Dictionary.com)

Sigh

Perhaps all we need,

Is wanderjahr and sabbath.

Time to take a breath.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Cri de coeur ... Spy

Today’s word is “cri de coeur” ... kreeduh koer ... French. an anguished cry of distress or indignation; outcry. (Dictionary.com)

Spy
From my tiny cloister,
I can see the world,
All the good and evil,
Which endlessly unfurl.

I am brought to tears,
By people I don’t know,
Who wander by on YouTube,
And every news-like show.

My cri de couer bursts forth,
When on my knees I pray,
For light to burst the darkness,
And blaze like noon of day.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Brachylogy ... Dash

Today’s word is “brachylogy” ... bruh-kil-uh-jee ... brevity of diction; concise or abridged form of expression. (Dictionary.com)

Dash
Home then!
Brachylogy cuts short!
Liveliness twinkles.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Pervious ... Sparkle

Today’s word is “pervious” ... pur-vee-uh s ... open or accessible to reason, feeling, argument, etc. (dictionary.com)

Sparkle

If we are pervious to love,

We will see it everywhere,

It’s footsteps will echo on our ears,

Our hearts will notice all things fair.

If instead we block the light,

And each good impulse put to flight,

We are welcome to the dark,

And the fear that comes with night.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Dundrearies ... Stylin’

Today’s word is “dundrearies” ... duhn-dreer-eez ... long, full sideburns or muttonchop whiskers. (Dictionary.com)

Stylin’

Ah! Fickle fashion!

Dundrearies no longer wow.

They’ll be back again.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Greek ... Laugh

Today’s word is “gleek” ... gleek ... Archaic. to make a joke; jest. (Dictionary.com)

Laugh

In the olden days,

A comedic one would gleek,

And the common folk,

Would laugh and cry and shriek.

They still ply their trade today,

The ones who slyly wink,

And joke about most everything,

That they can bind and link.

With all this famous levity,

You’d think we’d rise with glee,

But their unkind humor,

Is setting no one free.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Palmy ... Riches

Today’s word is “palmy” ... pah-mee ... glorious, prosperous, or flourishing. (Dictionary.com)

Riches

Driving through the palmy places,

Wondering what that life is like,

No problems caused by lack of funds,

No fear when bad surprises strike.

Although some say it’s not the money,
That makes our lives both full and rich,
Sometimes I’d like to try it out,
And see if i’d fit in that niche.

But as I count all of my blessings,
The love of family and friends,
There is not much that’s left to envy,
And much on which I can depend.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Logomachy ... Advent

Today’s word is “logomachy” ... loh-gom-uh-kee ... a dispute about or concerning words. (Dictionary.com)

Advent

Under the glow of sparkling lights,

May not be the best of climes,

To engage in logomachy,

With no reason and no rhyme.

Let the music float,

Around us and within,

Until resentment passes,

And we stand in places, thin.

From this new perspective,

Perhaps we will find peace,

Or at least a place,

For goodness and release.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Xanadu ... Gon

Today’s word is “Xanadu” ... zan-uh-doo ... a place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment. (Dictionary.com)

Gone
Where is Xanadu?
In imagination’s eye?
Some still blindly search.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Gerontocracy ... Peas

Today’s word is “gerontocracy” ... jer-uh n-tok-ruh-see ... a state or government in which old people rule. (Dictionary.com)

Peas
Little people often,
     Have their own ideas
They have their own perspective,
     On rules and regulations.

They seldom happily approve,
     Of the gerontocracy’s cruel view,
On eating vegetables instead of doughnuts,
    Or never missing school.

But as they grow they’ll find,
     Despite their elders spartan ways,
That brains grow strong with healthy food,
     And learning always pays.

Someday they’ll have their own tots,
     To manage and corral,
And realize parenting’s just not the same,
     As being your child’s pal.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Literatim ... More

Today’s word is “literatim” ... lit-uh-rey-tim ... letter-for-letter; literally. (Dictionary.com)

More

We are literatim, stardust,

Formed how we do not know,

Though we are as natural,

As rain or ice or snow.

Yet within us beats,

A heart and mind apart,

From all else on this earth,

Which too had a start.

With reason and with will,

But with more, we call it love,

We rise above those earthly things,

To praise our God above.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Cockcrow ... Alarm

Today’s word is “cockcrow” ... kok-kroh ... daybreak; dawn; the time at which a cock characteristically crows. (Dictionary.com)

Alarm
Now the darkness lingers,
And there is no cockcrow,
Though it is the morning,
With hours left to go.

This deepening of gloom,
Signals winter creeping,
Breathing near our skin,
Her secrets for now, sleeping.

Soon she will be raging,
Full of howling white,
We’ll huddle by the fire,
The best of fight or flight.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Nostrum ... Taste

Today’s word is “nostrum” ... nos-truh m ... a scheme, theory, device, etc., especially one to remedy social or political ills; panacea. (Dictionary.com)

Taste
This man-made nostrum,
That all cultures should now merge,
Ignores sweet flavors.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Sagittate ... Lift

Today’s word is “Sagittate” ... saj-i-teyt ... shaped like an arrowhead. (Dictionary.com)

Lift

He threw the sagittate paper,

And watched it as it flew,

Flown by his artistic hand,

A folded plane, brand new.

He made one, then another,

All different shapes and forms,

Most flew fast and far,

A few were just the norm.

In his imagination,

He flew over hill and dale,

Watching tiny people,

From his craft so frail.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Benevolence ... Favor

Today’s word is “benevolence” ... buh-nev-uh-luh ns ... desire to do good to others; goodwill. (Dictionary.com)

Favor

What is this benevolence,

Which hangs us in-between,

The things that spin before our eyes,

And those that are unseen?

We are at once below the stars,

Yet standing on the earth,

While inside our very selves,

Are worlds of cosmic worth.

We cannot catch the energy,

Which powers our own hearts,

Or plum the tiniest mysteries,

Of which we are a part.

Yet somehow we still believe,

We drive ourselves along,

Though deep within us and without,

We’re born on by holy song.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Mazuma ... Save

Today’s word is “mazuma” ... muh-zoo-muh ... Slang. money. (Dictionary.com)

Save

More mazuma please!

I’ll stuff it in my mattress!

That is sleeping green!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Hearth ... Good

Today’s word is “hearth” ... hahrth ... home; fireside: the joys of family and hearth. the floor of a fireplace, usually off stone, brick, etc., often extending into a room. (Dictionary.com)

Good

Warmed up from the inside,

   By the love of family,

        Holes filled you didn’t even know 

                You had.

Hearth-side conversations,

     Game fueled rivalries, forgotten

          When the winner celebrates.

Food of all descriptions 

     Appealing to every appetite,

          Even the smallest, smiles.

Worship and song remind us 

     Of our source and life,

          The meaning of our day complete

                From the beginning.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Torporific ... Sloth.

Today’s word is “torporific” ... tawr-puh-rif-ik ... causing sluggish inactivity or inertia. (Dictionary.com)

Sloth.

Branch. To branch. He. climbs.

Frame. By frame. Slow motion.

This toporific creature,

Causes. No. Commotion.

Dangling. In. Repose.

Content. In unknown. Fame.

We stare confused. Amazed.

He puts. The snail. To. Shame.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Pennyworth ... Shove

Today’s word is “pennyworth” ... a bargain. as much as may be bought for a penny. a small quantity. (Dictionary.com)

Shove

Ah, this Friday’s black!

And for all merchants good.

Everyone wants their pennyworth,

As they buy more than they should,

But the holiday’s are here,

And for some, gifts are expected,

And if it’s not the “right” one,

They will feel rejected.

So we’ll tippy-toe,

From one feast to the next,

Hoping the presents that we bring,

Will be remembered as the best!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017