Shrive ... Graced

Today's word is "shrive" ... shrahyv ... to grant absolution to (a penitent). (Dictionary.com)

Graced

A line begins to form,

Beggars at God's table,

Waiting to be shrived,

Made holy, and enabled.

The old will quickly fade,

Into a beginning new,

Which enfolds us all,

Within its compassed view.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bumbershoot ... Fly

Today's word is "bumbershoot" ... BUHM-bear-shoot ... Informal: Often Facetious. An umbrella.

Fly

Oh to float up in the sky,

And sail between the clouds,

Hanging from a bumbershoot,

And singing songs out loud.

I suppose that kind of thing,

Happens only in children's tales,

Or in minds unspoiled by life,

Where happiness hasn't failed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Meritorious ... Think

Today's works "meritorious" ... mer-i-TAWR-ee-uh s ... deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy.

Think

Whatever is good, 

Whatever is true,

Whatever's meritorious,

Will soothe the brain 

And comfort the heart,

With holy seriousness.

Left on our own,

Left with our thoughts,

To decide our final fate

We'll fail every time,

And in every way,

Without an antidote to hate.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Runnel ... Flow

Today's word is "runnnel" ... RUHN-l ... a small stream; brooks; rivulet. (Dictionary.com)

Flow

Innocent runnel,

Charged by rolling, raging rains,

Sweeps the old away.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Scrapegrace ... Scales

Today's word is "scapegrace" ... SKEYP-greys ... a complete rogue or rascal; a habitually unscrupulous person; a scamp. (Dictionary.com)

Scales

The scapegrace runs wild.

He appears to be winning.

Caught in his own net.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Beastie ... Hi

Today's word is "beastie" ... BEE-stee ... a small animal, especially one toward which affection is felt. (Dictionary.com)

Hi

A doggy's come to visit us,

For just about a week,

But we also have a feline,

Who 'round the corner peeks.

He estimates his chances,

Of coming out on top,

And stalks that fraidy puppy,

Ready for a romp.

One beastie barks, the other growls,

They face off, then they spar,

The kitty makes his presence felt,

Then watches from afar.

Maybe when the week is past,

They will be fast friends,

If not, we'll all be much relieved,

And ready for the fun to end.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Dudgeon ... Sigh

Today's word is "dudgeon" ... DUHJ-uh n ... a feeling of offense or resentment; anger. (Dictionary.com)

Sigh

Everywhere you listen,

You will hear the sound,

Of the sad disciples,

(Grumbling abounds.)

Things here haven't turned out,

The way some thought they should,

Thus the desperate dudgeon,

They've been misunderstood.

Time, it's sometimes said,
Heals our wounded hearts,

But divinely given comfort,

May make a better start.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Excoriate ... Oh!

Today's word is "excoriate" ... to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally. (Dictionary.com)

Oh!

What did you expect?

To be excoriated?

That your sins would follow you,

And by evil you'd be fated?

Well then how surprising,

When you see face to face,

Your God forgive you freely,

And surround you with his grace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Statecraft ... Why

Today's word is "statecraft" ... STEYT-kraft ... the art of government and diplomacy. (Dictionary.com)

Why?

Statecraft is simple.

A 2-year old turns circles.

Just try to keep up.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Fress ... Sugar

Today's word is "fress" ... fres ... Slang. to eat or snack, especially often or in large quantities. (Dictionary.com)

Sugar

"Fess! Fress! Eat it all!"
Says the appetite within.
The will whispers, "No"

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Craquelure ... Skin

Today's word is "craquelure" ... krak-LOO R ... a network of fine cracks or crackles on the surface of a painting, caused chiefly by shrinkage of paint film or varnish. (Dictionary.com)

Skin

Craquelure ubiquitous,

Is found on walls of concrete,

Embellished on an elder's face,

Or the bottoms of your feet.

It appears when least expected,

Like the passing of the years,

Revealed in a mirrored widow,

A sudden, worn veneer.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Oscitant ... Misty

Today's word is "oscitant" ... OS-I-tuh nt ... drowsy or inattentive. (Dictionary.com)

Misty

In the early afternoon,

That oscitant time of day,

A wave as heavy as the sea,

Breaks upon my way.

I try to swim against its weight,

But it holds a magic spell,

I slowly give up consciousness,

To its mighty swell.

It sweeps me to a place unknown,

Where the thunder sounds,

And when I wake, I live again,

On solid, earthen ground.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Procrustean ... Manipulate

Today's word is "Procrustean" ... proh-KRUHS-tee-uh n ... tending to produce conformity by violent or arbitrary means. (Dictionary.com)

Manipulate

In a strange land long ago,

Lived a robber quite well fed,

Who stretched or trimmed his visitors,

To tuck them well into his beds.

And so we speak of Procrustes,
And any others who would deign,
To control their enemies,
With methods that seem most insane.

In this world of moral dilemmas,
How do we then rise above,
Cruel and torturous remedies,
And instead use truth and love?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Sine die ... Around

Today's word is "sine die" ... SAHY-nee DAHY-ee ... without fixing a day for future action or meeting. (Dictionary.com)

Around

Seeds, weeds, together,

As we wait sine die,

     the universe turns.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Spoony ... Priceless

Today's word is "spoony" ... SPOO-nee ... Informal. foolishly or sentimentally amorous. (Dictionary.com)

Priceless

This is the day for valentines,

Dinners out and spoony stuff,

Hearts of red and chocolate,

Whatever you do won't seem enough.

How to show someone all your love,

Express deep feelings for the one you adore?

The truth of the feeling's mysterious ...

Something you can't buy at any store.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Pedagogy ... Transfer

Today's word is "pedagogy" ... PED-uh-goh-jee ... the function or work of a teacher; teaching. (Dictionary.com)

Transfer

Who teaches teachers?

What pedagogy prevails

In a broken world?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Calliopean ... Flakes

Today's word is "calliopean" ... kuh-lahy-uh-PEE-uh n ... piercingly loud; resembling a calliope in sound. (Dictionary.com)

Flakes
Winter quiet's broken,
By the first bird song on wing,
And calliopean thunderclaps,
That a spring rainstorm brings.

It may be a little premature,
To praise sunlight on our skin,
But we would rather be outside,
Not stuck for months within.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Noblesse oblige ... Good

Today's word is "noblesse oblige" ... noh-BLES oh-BLEEZH ... the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc. (dictionary.com)

Good

Is there a moral high ground,

Where thrive only the highly-born?

Where noblesse oblige is honored,

Toward the lesser and forlorn?

Should we not all shower those,

Who live under troubles sore,

With love and understanding,

Wouldn't we want more?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Whiffler ... Spin

Today's word is "whiffler" ... HWIF-ler ... a person who frequently shifts opinions, attitudes, interests, etc.

Spin

The whiffler turns 'round,

And meets himself coming back ...

Where was I again?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Muckrake ... Rubbish

Today's word is "muckrake" ... MUHK-reyk ... to search for and expose real or alleged corruption, scandle, or the like, especially in politics. (Dictionary.com)

Rubbish

Digging under the sparkle for dirt,

Thrashing about for the prize,

Time-honored tradition says "look!"

(Though a beam's firmly lodged in your eye.)

Writer's of substance and truth,

Muckrake just for the joy,

Justice and fairness are their fair aim,

They do not scout to destroy.

But some with a devilish mustache,

Will twist and say with a wink,

I alone will take down the pretender,

With my wit and my pen and my ink.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Troglodyte ... Drip

Today's word is "troglodyte" ... TROG-luh-dahyt ... a person of degraded, primitive, or brutal character. (Dictionary.com)

Drip

The painting was hung,

A troglodyte masterpiece,

Watchers stared, amazed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bonzer ... Wait

Today's word is "bonzer" ... BON-zer ... Australian. remarkable; wonderful. (Dictionary.com)

Wait

Yesterday was bonzer,

The sun strayed out from cloud,

A warm wind wound around us,

And birds sang loud and long.

A trick of heart was had,

The world seemed all aright,

Then, back today the cold rains came,

And joy hid out of sight.

Why the sun and wind and rain,

Should moody make us feel,

Is an unassailable mystery,

Which upon us daily steals.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Paralogize ... What?

Today's word is "paralogize" ... puh-RAL-uh-jahyz ... to draw conclusions that do not follow logically from a given set of assumptions. (Dictionary.com)

What?

Reading the other's mind,

Following their reason,

Can drive one to distraction,

In this tense and crazy season.

When they paralogize,
(No matter what they say),
You try to hold your tongue,
Or leave without delay.

To save a friendship good,
Might take more than human will,
But a touch of grace and payer,
May help us all to chill.


Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Juggernaut ... Fierce

Today's word is "juggernaut" ... JUHG-er-nawt ... anything requiring blind devotion or cruel sacrifice. (Dictionary.com)

Fierce

The juggernaut comes

    With stealth and a smile for all.

Hold onto your hats!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Feinschmecker ... Touchdown

Today's word is "feinschmecker" ... FAHYN-shmek uh r ... German. Gourmet.

Touchdown

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl,

Everyone is stressing,

Counting up pizzas and wings,

Food fantasies confessing.

There are few feinschmeckers,

In this football soup,

And people are not eating much,

That can't be held or scooped.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Cloudland ... Stuffy

Today's word is "cloudland" ... KLOUD-land ... the sky. (Dictionary.com)

Stuffy

Colds and flue abound.

Your brain resides in cloudland.

Let tomorrow come!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Umbra ... Guess

Today's word is "umbra" ... UHM-bruh ... shade; shadow. (Dictionary.com)

Guess

The sun came out today,

A middling sun, but still,

The umbra is important,

(Says Punxsutawney Phil)

He knows secret groundhog things,

Which he reveals each year,

And now he's seen his shadow,

Which means Spring isn't near.

Though he says he's always right,

His record's not so great,

Yet we ask him every year,

About our weather's fate!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Ataraxia ... Alarm

Today's word is "ataraxia" ... at-uh-RAK-see-uh ... a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; tranquillity. (Dictionary.com)

Alarm
Nothing but chaos,
Ataraxia a dream.
Wake up you sleepers!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017