Ergate ... Labor

Today's word is "urgate" ... ur-geyt ... a worker ant. (Dictionary.com)

Labor

Busy on the ant hill,

The urgates come and go,

Carrying their cargo,

Firstly to, then fro.

From early morn to dusk,

They heft their burdens high,

While the nearby grasshoppers,

Laze and watch the sky.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Variegated ... Shaded

Today's word is "variegated" ... vair-ee-i-gey-tid ... varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors. (Dictionary.com)

Shaded

Rustling hosta,

Solid green or variegated,

Companion of the fern and bleeding heart,

Nestled next to Jack in his pulpit,

Finding solace in the succulant soil,

Growing in deepening gloom,

Blessing the deep wood,

With luxurious peace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Membranophone ...

Today's word is "membranophone" ... mem-brey-nuh-fohn ... any musical instrument, as a drum, in which the sound is produced by striking, rubbing, or blowing against a membrane stretched over a frame. (Dictionary.com)

Blast

What is that sound that's booming,

Like a million membranophones?

Loud enough to shatter 

A mountain made of stone.

A jet streaking in the darkness,

The rumble of a freighted train,

Now pelting hail and branches,

And lightning spliting rain.

The power of this moment,

Is beyond our mortal ken,

Yet tomorrow's sudden silence,

Will surround us once again.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Ballon ... Escape

Today's word is "ballon" ... French ba-lawn ... Ballet. The lightness and grace of movement that make a dancer appear buoyant. (Dictionary.com)

Escape

Floating light upon the air,

The little seed did travel,

Surprised at such ballon, he saw,

His origin unravel.

Down below the fields were green,

As summer winked away,

The breezes held him gently,

As too and fro he swayed.

Soon he parachuted down,

To the clotted earth,

Never suspecting that his fall,

Would lead to his new birth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bumfuzzle ... Brain

Today's word is "bumfuzzle" ... buhm-fuzz-uh l ... Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to confuse or fluster. (Dictionary.com)

Brain

If you think too much,

You might become bumfuzzled.

But think anyway.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Autarky ... Dangle

Today's word is "autarky" ... aw-tahr-kee ... the condition of self-sufficiency, especially economic, as applied to a nation. (Dictionary.com)

Dangle

So few countries left.

Hanging on to autarky.

Fingernail fragile.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Litotes ... Hear

Today's word is "litotes" ... lahy-tuh-teez ... understatement, especially that in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary, as in "not bad at all." (Dictionary.com)

Hear
Some people cannot take a hint,
No matter how it's spoken,
By litotes or by metaphor,
Their image can't be broken.

Soft and earnest talking points,
Or facts voiced in loudest tones,
Will not dissuade these advocates,
Their ears are made of stone.

Only swift action makes a dent,
Into their misty bubble,
Bursting false presumptions,
Causing false theories fatal trouble.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Highfalutin ... Silly

Today's word is "highfalutin" ... hahy-fuh-loot-n ... Informal. pompous; bombastic; haughty; pretentious. (Dictionary.com)

Silly

Everything they say

Is highfalutin and false.

No! I won't listen!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Polemic ... Right

Today's word is "polemic" ... puh-lem-ik ...a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc. (dictionary.com)

Right

All I hear is shouting,

From one side or the other,

Polemics flying through the air,

Using words to smother.

The arguments come fast and strong,

With heartfelt agitation,

Each standing firmly on his ground,

Underling his narration.

What's missing from this fracas,

Is an attempt at dialogue,

Only clearest thinking,

Can through this division slog.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Tarn ... Sparkle

Today's word is "tarn" ... tharn ... a small mountain lake or pool, especially one in a cirque. (Dictionary.com)

Sparkle

Falling night deepens.

The tarn reflects darkened sky,

Yet, stars dance in her.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Al desko ... Break

Today's word is "al desko" ... al des-koh ... Facetious. (of meals or eating) at one's desk in an office: always snacking al desko; having an al desko lunch.

(Dictionary.com)

Break

So many fabulous flavors,

So many tasty treats,

Wait just beyond your office,

Beat it with your feet!

Get out into the sunshine,

Lubricate your bones,

Al desko dinning will not revive,

Those who dine alone.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Lickspittle ...

Today's word is "lickspittle" ... a contemptible, fawning person; a servile flatterer or toady. (Dictionary.com)

Startle
Running all around the place,
Doing as he was told,
The lickspittle's will was nearly gone,
He never would be bold.

Though in his youth he'd had a dream,
When he was a mere twenty,
He began to bow to gold and power,
Thinking he'd win plenty.

The years they went a ticking by;
Then forty years had run,
He gave in to the hum drum,
Grinding stones from sun to sun.

Then one day a piercing light,
Brought joy into his heart,
And he once again began to plan,
An arrow flying toward its mark.

Anne Selleck 
Copyright 2017

Phlegethon ... Starshine

Today's word is "phlegethon" ... flag-uh-thon ... a stream of fire or fiery light; a river of fire, one of five rivers surrounding Hades. (Dictionary.com)

Starshine

Our sun glows hot red.

A life-giving phlegethon,

The perfect distance.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Ovine ... Baa

Today's word is "ovine" ... oh-vahyn ... pertaining to, of the nature of, or like sheep. (Dictionary.com)

Baa

Who are these wary, wandering ones,

Bleating with apprehension?

Who, in the same direction gaze,

With no comprehension?

Their ovine eyes blink with dismay,

At everything they see,

The world turns on and yet they weep,

For the way things ought to be.

Safe in their fold, their tiny hooves,

Beat out a well-trod story,

They watch the walls go 'round and 'round,

But see no path to glory.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Exculpatory ... See!

Today's word is "exculpatory" ... ik-skuhl-puh-tawr-ee ... tending to clear from a charge of fault or guilt. (Dictionary.com)

See!

Looking high and low,

For exculpatory facts,

Please let there be proof!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Alveolate ... Sprout

Today's word is "alveolate" ... al-vee-uh-lit ... having alveoli; deeply pitted, as a honeycomb. (Dictionary.com)

Sprout

Nature's wonders come attired,

In colors of the rainbow,

Glassine smooth, alveolate,

They variegated grow.

Their forms are multitudinous,

Wild, ridiculous and tame,

Yet all are facets of the one,

Who knows them all by name.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Uptalk ... Say

Today's word is "uptalk" ... a rise in pitch at the end usually of a declarative sentence, especially if habitual. (Dictionary.com)

Say

Even if you're very sure,

About the point you're making,

Your uptalk might confuse your friends,

Statements for questions, taking.

So be clear with your intentions,

And match your tone of voice,

To the feelings you are feeling,

After all, you have a choice.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Fete ... Now

Today's word is "fete" ... feyt ... a festive celebration or entertainment; a day of celebration; holiday; a religious feast or festival. (Dictionary.com)

Now

Summer is for feasts,

A beach fete every weekend,

Snow comes soon enough.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Harrumph ... Busted

Today's word is "harrumph" ... huh-ruhmf ... to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner. (Dictionary.com)

Busted

In the back of class he sat,

Listening to facts on this and that,

His teacher harrumphing very loudly,

On his positions leaning, proudly.

He'd no concentration in this din,

As he imagined where he might have been,

If only he could've had his druthers,

And hung out with wayward others.

He could play pool, down at the hall,

Or shop for hours at the mall,

He could loiter lazy in the park,

Playing basketball 'til dark.

But his dreaming was undone,

And the thoughts of all that fun,
Slowly melted, then they died,

When the professor caught his eye.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Glocal ... All

Today's word is "glocal" ... gloh-Kuh l ... of or relating to the interconnection of global and local issues, factors, etc; of or relating to the tailoring of globally available products and services to local markets. (Dictionary.com)

All

One sigh can be heard around the world,

Sorrow felt across an ocean,

Happiness flies in the blink of an eye,

No one can stop it's motion.

Ideas glocal heave their weight,

Bending each heart's intention,

Lines are blurred; emotions stirred,

With every thought's extension.

Human unity thus compelled,
To chase an uncertain goal,
May appear to bring all good near,
Yet wreck on lifeless shoals.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Perambulator ... Grin

Today's word is "perambulator" ... per-am-byuh-ley-ter ... baby carriage pushed by a person walking. (Dictionary.com)

Grin
Tiny baby smile,

From the perambulator,
Luxury travel!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Janus-faced ... Skills

The word today is "Janus-faced" ... jey-nuh s-feyst ... having two contrasting aspects, as the alternation of mood in a capricious person. Two-faced; deceitful. (Dictionary.com)

Skills

Forward and backward,

The Janus-faced, tightrope walks,

Balancing, just so.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Ameliorate ... Fix

Today's word is "ameliorate"'... uh-Mel-yuh-reyt ... to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve. (Dictionary.com)

Fix

Perhaps more education,

Or money in large bricks,

And food and medication,

Will finally do the trick,

A new form of government,

More rules and regulations,

More prisons, jails and counselors,

Will save our reputations.

More plays and entertainment,

Shows, circuses and stars,

Will make us much more pliable,

And ameliorate our scars.

No matter what our resources,

Or best human counter-measures,

We are no match for love or grace,

Or any of God's treasures.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Cannikin ... Drip

Today's word is "cannikin" ... kan-i-kin ... a small can or drinking cup. (Dictionary.com)

Drip

All drops of knowledge,

Would fit in a cannikin,

On the ocean's shore.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Phenology ... Why?

Today's word is "phenology" ... fi-nol-uh-jee ... the science dealing with the influence of climate on the recurrence of such annual phenomena of animal and plant life as budding and bird migrations. (Dictionary.com)

Why?

People study everything,

Things that grovel, things with wings,

Stars and clouds and bumblebees,

Why you heal from a skinned knee.

Things above, below within,

Inside or outside of your skin,

Even things you cannot see,
Math, physics or theology.

Phenology, astronomy,

Or even biology,

No matter where on earth you go,

Science has been there head to toe.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Instantiate ... Awake

Today's word is "instantiate" ... in-stan-shee-eyt ... to provide an instance of or concrete evidence in support of (a theory, concept, claim, or the like).

Awake

The great unknown God

Became instantiated ...

Love lives among us.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Gobsmacked ... Shine

Today's word is "gobsmacked" ... gob-smakt ... Chiefly British Informal. utterly astounded; astonished. (Dictionary.com)

Shine

Every morning, gobsmacked,

By flowers blue as sky,

Green grass laying quiet,

'Til caressed by breeze's sigh.

Birds that sing with gusto,

Sunlight dappled trees,

Warmth from summer's coming,

Encouraging our ease.

The world of nature gives us,

Reason to have hope,

Belief in the power of beauty,

Strength enough to cope.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Unalienable ... Banner

Today's word is "unalienable" ... uhn-eyl-yuh-nuh-buh l ... not transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied. (Dictionary.com)

Banner
If you were to choose a place to live,
And were weighing up conditions,
Contrasting landscapes and politics,
And wondering about traditions,

Would your underlying thoughts include,
What rights you'd have, unalienable?
Would you wonder if they would prove,
To be guaranteed unassailable?

As you look out upon the world,
To find freedom's perfect land.
Don't be surprised, that there's only one,
Where you can freely stand!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Sotto Voce ... Shhh

Sotto voce ... sot-oh voh-chee ... in a low, soft voice so as not to be overheard. (Dictionary.com)

Shhh

Conscience is speaking ...

I hear its sotto voce.

Listen with your heart.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Smorgasbord ... Dine

Today's word is "smorgasbord" ... smawr-guh s-bawrd ... an extensive array or variety. (Dictionary.com)

Dine

Ideas like a smorgasbord,

Await each waking hour.

We are the ones who decide,

Which rule us with their power.

Words are things which pull and tug,

On conscience, will and deed,

One on one they bind into

A stubborn solid creed.

Awake, aware then to discern,

What will empower your days,

Love, joy and peace will surely ease,

The choices that you'll weigh.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Exurb ... Companions

Today's word is "exurb" ... ek-serb ... a small, usually prosperous, community situated beyond the suburbs of a city. (Dictionary.com)

Companions

Walking in the cities' shadows,

Or up the farmland's fairest hills,

In suburbs, exurbs, or the wilds,

Nature's life the spaces fills.

Birds above and ants below,

Fishes in the streams and lakes,

Animals of all description,

Do for their homes, our excess take.

Living as we do together,

Willingly or not, it seems,

Our fates surely ride together,

As earth reflects sun's gracious beams.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017