Divagate ... Cry

Today's word is "divagate" ... dahy-vehicle-geyt ... to wander;stray (dictionary.com)

Cry

The little lamb bleats ...

divagates ... crying for help.

His shepherd is near.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Ophidian ... Hidden

Today's word is "ophidian" ... oh-fid-ee-uh n ... a snake. (Dictionary.com)

Hidden
He was there, in the garden,
How he got there, we don't know,
But he worked his wiley ways,
With stealthy knowledge, tempting slow.

This ophidian, full of glee,
Envisioned horror, blood and bones,
In this carnage he would revel,
Making a kingdom of his own.

But he didn't think his slighted God,
Would become payment for this deed,
And die himself, to save the ones,
Who live by grace, forgiven, free.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Interdigitate ... Up

Today's word is "interdigitate" ... in-ter-dij-i-teyt ... to interlock, as or like the fingers of both hands. (Dictionary.com)

Up

Show that you are calm,

Interdigitate for me,

Levitate too, please.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Parallax ... Move

Today's word is "parallax" ... par-uh-lacks ... the apparent displacement of an observed object due to a change in the position of the observer. (Dictionary.com)

Move

"God does not exist,"

you say from your parallax.

Step up to the edge.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Beatinest ... Enjoy

Today's word is "beatinest" ... beet-n-ist ... South Midland and Southern U.S. most remarkable or unusual. (Dictionary.com)

Enjoy

Sometimes when you are playing ball,

Or on your horse, in leaves of fall,

Or painting with your brush in hand,

Or running fast across the land,

You might be tempted to exclaim,

(Though you care not for gold or fame),

"This is the beatinest! How great!"

This hobby's meant to be my fate!

When these feelings make you smile,

Do what you're doing for a while,

You'll be fulfilled by all that cheer,

And banish all you thought you feared.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Apple-polish ... Bite

Today's word (left over from Thursday!) is "apple-polish" ... ap-uh l-pol-ish ... Informal. to curry favor with someone, especially in an obsequious or flattering manner. (Dictionary.com)

Bite

Good fortune has turned.

Can you apple-polish God?

Grace awaits your words.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Doublethink ... Break

Today's word is "doublethink" ... duhb-uh- l-thingk ... the acceptance of two contradictory ideas or beliefs at the same time. (Dictionary.com)

Break
Once the dark was split,
Between it and the light,
Now the day, it stands,
Back to back with night.

Never can they share,
The same space again,
Shadows always flee,
When morning fills the glen.

But in the heart of man,
Doublethink's the furtive means,
By which we are tricked,
As evil's purpose schemes.

Stay true to all that's good,
Be not deceived by doubt,
God's will bright, shines forth,
And in the end will shout.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Maffick ... Soon

Today's word is "maffick" ... maf-ik ... British. to celebrate with extravagant public demonstrations. (Dictionary.com)

Soon

In the days beyond the darkness,

There will be joy unending,

And relief, less the sum of sighs ...

We'll no longer be defending.

The weight of man's most retched state,

Will be exchanged for glory,

And light from moon and stars replaced,

By Christ's unending story.

Lambs with lions will lay down,

And children safe will stay,

As by streams of righteousness,

We maffick, dance and play.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Cacoepy ... Baby-talk

Today's word is "cacoepy" ... kuh-koh-uh-pee ... correct pronunciation or an instance of this; mispronunciation. (Dictionary.com)

Baby-talk
When they're very little,

Children speak a language sweet,

Their cacoepy brings smiles,

To even strangers on the street.

The things they say may linger,

For years after they're grown,

When parents then remind them,

They shake their heads and moan.

Those happy, precious moments,

Are bittersweet with tears,

And carried in their parents hearts,

Through memories, all their years.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Estival ... Rays

Today's word is "estival" ... es-tuh-vuh l ... pertaining or appropriate to summer. (Dictionary.com)

Rays

Each day of this estival light,

Causes it later to stay,

My senses insist, "It's time for bed."

Yet the light, it plays.

In the depths of winter's darkness,

I wished for this endless day,

Now I am blessed to watch it's track,

As it through our garden strays.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Confusticate ... Nosh

Today's word is "confusticate" ... kuh- n-fuhs-ti-keyt ... Slang. to confuse or perplex; bewilder. (Dictionary.com)

Nosh

Checking all the labels,

For nutrition information,

Looking for the values,

For my menu's formulation.

I do believe they're written,

To confusticate our brains,

Hiding things like sugar,

With words so far from plain.

And if you trust the packaging,

With "heart healthy" written loud,

You'll be eating cereal,

Filled with marshmallowed clouds.

So, in the store I circle,

To find vegetables and fruit,

The power of the labels,

Rendered practically moot.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Sundog ... Complicated

Today's word is "sundog" ... suhn-dawg ... a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a small or incomplete rainbow. (Dictionary.com)

Complicated

The phenomena of nature,

Speak a language clear,

From DNA, the intricate,

To the viruses we fear.

At the end of stormy darkness,

A sundog may shine bright,

Underneath the ocean,

Blind creatures navigate their night.

Fingerprints and faces,

Are evidence most bold,

That within all, God's abiding,

And his story's being told.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Whizzo ... Cheers!

Today's word is "whizzo" ... hwiz-oh ... British Slang. absolutely first-rate; superb; excellent. (Dictionary.com)

Cheers!

To their dads today,

The children proclaim, "Whizzo!"

No other will do!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Sui generis ... copy

Today's word is "sui generis" ... soo-i ge-ne-ris ... Latin. of his, her, its, or their own kind; unique. (Dictionary.com)

Copy

Though they look the same,

Each is sui generis.

Each living creature.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Expostulate ... Held

Today's word is "expostulate" ... ik-spos-chuh-leyt ... to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate. (Dictionary.com)

Held

For years and centuries on end,

      the Lord of the Hebrews spoke,

cajoled and expostulated through

     prophet, poem and proclamation,

In words of warning and with sorrow, pleading,

     for his people to return to him.

Yet they wandered, foot-sore and weary,

     filled with manna caked like dust in their mouths.

A kingdom was promised them,

     and generations numerous as stars,

Yet there were more immediate needs that rankled,

     and prodded them to think of smaller things.

Clouded vision veiling a love greater than their feeble imaginings,

     that followed, led and surrounded them 

           and would not let them go.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

     

     

Trothplight ... Bend

Today's word is "trothplight" ... trawth-plahyt ... engagement to be married; (dictionary.com)

Bend
In the world of long ago,
A trothplight would be made,
A promise for the future,
Which time would never fade.

Now promises that resound,
May last but a short day,
Until one or the other's bored,
And no longer wants to stay.

What magic's in a promise,
That makes it sure and true,
So two may live together,
Even when things are askew?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Sibylline ... Plain

Today's word is "sibylline" ... sib-uh-leen ... mysterious; cryptic. (Dictionary.com)

Plain

Are there true answers,

In documents sibylline?

Or is the truth, plain?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Humblebrag ... Tedious

Today's word is "humblebrag" ... huhm-buh l-brag ... a statement intended as a boast or brag but disguised by a humble apology, complaint, etc. (dictionary.com)

Tedious

"Oh! It is so tiresome,

Toting bundles everywhere,

Over mountains, streams and plains,

To see the world, without a care."

"I would take my servant too,

If he didn't talk so much,

As it is, I'll do the work myself,

As I see the sights and such."

The humblebrag went on and on,

Heedless of his reputation,

And the eyes that rolled in heads,

When he spoke about vacation!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Prelapsarian ... Now

Today's word is "prelapsarian" ... pree-lap-sair-ee-uh n ... characteristic of or pertaining to any innocent or carefree period; Theology. occurring before the Fall. (Dictionary.com)

Now

Deep must have been prelapsarian peace
Lived out eons ago,

Before we were bound in woeful chains ...

Caught in sin's raw flow.

Imagine fields of ripened grain,

Streams intense and pure,

Cooperation in all the land,

No need for sickness' cure.

Loving songs, ringing round

The air above the earth,

The calm of sleep; the joy of friends,

Good humor, faith and mirth.

If this seems to you a fantasy,

Or mere story seems,

Why then surprise at our retreat

From what's promised we can be?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Aegis ... Warmth

Today's word is "aegis" ... ee-jis ... protection; support. (Dictionary.com)

Warmth

Where is the healing?

Is our aegis from on high

Or within ourselves?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Hireling ... Weave

Today's word is "hireling" ... hahyuh r-ling ... a person who works only for pay, especially in a menial or boring job, with little or no concern for the value of the work. (Dictionary.com)

Weave

Schluffing dishes, pushing papers,

Counting post holes in the ground,

Fixing hotdogs by the sidewalk,

While listening to the traffic sounds.

Mowing lawns and planting flowers,

Cutting trees and bushes down,

Running someone else's errands,

A hireling, not one of reknown.

Jobs that seem so unimportant,

Would, if they were poorly done,

Leave the world somewhat unraveled,

With all the colors badly spun.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bellyache ... Blink

Today's word is "bellyache" ... bel-ee-elk ... Informal. to complain; grumble. (Dictionary.com)

Blink

Closing troubled eyes,

Prevents no evil action ...

So don't bellyache.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Conflagration ... Illumine

Today's word is "conflagration" ... kon-fluh-grey-shuh n ... a destructive fire, usually an extensive one. (Dictionary.com)

Illumine
Sitting quiet in my chair,
Mulling feelings in the air,
Wondering how it all will end,
Who will win, and who will bend.

Hoping for no conflagration,
That would make embers of our nations,
Praying that ideas reasoned,
Will prevail in this dark season.

If the hand of God is here,
We'd best listen and draw near,
Our best intentions up 'til now,
Have only caused our trip and fall.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Serendipity ... Beam

Today's word is "serendipity" ... ser-uh n-dip-i-tee ... good fortune; luck; an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. (Dictionary.com)

Beam

Serendipitous sunrise.

Grateful for morning,

Joyful life surges.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Brinkmanship ... Pause

Today's word is "brinkmanship" ... bringk-muh n-ship ... the technique or practice of maneuvering a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure the greatest advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises. (Dictionary.com)

Pause

Take it to the very edge,

Show the brinkmanship of power,

Part of humanity believes.

In waiting 'til the final hour.

All the people, under thumbs,

Among each other, grumble,

They watch leaders juggle peace,

As toward their enemies they stumble.

If humans could only be content,

With what they hold within their hands,

They'd not be fearful of their neighbors

And what might be their next demand.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Vim ... Nuts

Today's word is "vim" ... lively or energetic spirit; enthusiasm; vitality. (Dictionary.com)

Nuts

Squirrels are running everywhere,

Full of vim and crazy,

You can call them many names,

But, certainly, not lazy.

Up and down the tree trunks,

They chase each other's tails,

Jumping over distances,

That would cause my heart to fail.

If I had just a portion,

Of all that energy,

The things that I want to finish,

Would no longer be.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Notabilia ... See

Today's word is "notabilia" ... Noh-tub-bil-ee-uh ...matters, events, or items worthy of note. (Dictionary.com)

See

Looking at your screen ...

can you see notabilia?

A world in a box.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Athleisure ... Buff

Athleisure ... ath-lee-zher ... a style of clothing worn as athletic apparel but also suitable for casual, everyday wear.

Buff

I am looking great.

Got my athleisure look on.

I want a donut.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Sinker ... Come

Today's word is "sinker" ... sing-ker ... A weight, as of lead, for sinking a fishing line or net below the surface of the water. (Dictionary.com)

Come

Water calm as glass

calls, longing for fishermen ...

Poles, sinkers and all!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Centenarian ... Tortoise

Today's word is "centenarian" ... sen-to-air-eye-uh n ... a person who has reached the age of 100. Pertaining to or having lived 100 years. (Dictionary.com)

Tortoise

Walking on his stoney way,

Across the mottled sand,

Never thinking past the day,

Or if he should have planned.

Incuriously plodding on,

For so many years,

Has made his centenarian mind,

Immune to joy or fear.

He takes one step and then one more ...

It's all he manages to do,

He would be filled with much surprise,

If he discovered something new.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017