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

Scrummy ... Noon

Today’s word is “scrummy” ... skruhm-ee ...Chiefly British Informal. very pleasing, espeilly to the senses; delectable; splendid; scrumptious. (Dictionary.com)

Noon

Did the pilgrims smile,

Declaring dinner scrummy,

Despite no football?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bakemeat ... Thanks

Today’s word is “bakemeat” ... beyk-meet ... Obsolete. pastry; pie. Especially a meat pie. (Dictionary.com)

Thanks

Thanksgiving is a special day,

For food upon the table,

Favorite delicious recipes,

We make if we are able.

Turkey and the trimmings,

Vegetables galore,

Meat pies, cream and pumpkin,

Eating ‘til we say, “No more!”

But more than food is offered,

As we sit with those we love,

Thanks and praise to God,

Who gifts us from above.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Footloose ... Free

Today’s word is “footloose” ... foo t-loos ... free to go or travel about; not confined by responsibilities. (Dictionary.com)

Free

Walking about, footloose,

     Without a care,

Appears to be the best of worlds,

     What we long for most of all.

There are conditions of course,

     Enough money to guarantee

          All options open.

Time to go wherever you will

     For as long as you will,

Health, to walk and climb

     And breathe the freedom in.

And no one must suffer. No children

     Languishing. No elders ignored.

          No friends or lovers left alone.

And of course, no work, no office,

     Unless you can take it with you.

For every wonderous step, 

     the wanderer will leave behind

          as much as he gains.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Deontology ... Fixed

Today’s word is “deontology” ... dee-on-tol-uh-jee ...ethics, especially that branch dealing with duty, moral obligation, and right action. (Dictionary.com)

Fixed
A greater scale weighs
Beyond deontology.
Ultimate justice.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Macaronic ... Spin

Today’s word is “macaronic” ... mak-uh-ron-ik ... composed of a mixture of languages. Composed of or characterized by Latin words given Latin endings. (Dictionary.com)

Spin
English language is mysterious,
With meanings wild and rare,
Some impossible to pronounce,
Some with spelling that’s a scare!

There’s no macaroni in macaronic,
Though there may be some confusion,
No ambulance in funambulist,
A tight rope walker (and his contusion.)

You can’t play music on a plethora,
It means a lot of something,
Nugatory isn’t creamy smooth,
But rather worthless as a fling.

These few strange examples,
Are just the iceburg’s tip,
Thousands more are waiting,
To trip up your mind and lips.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Nonbook ... Spine

Today’s word is “nonbook” ... non-boo k ... a book without artistic or literary merit or substance, especially one that has been developed primarily to exploit a fad or make a profit quickly. (Dictionary.com)

Spine

If your days are pages,

And every act a word,

Then you’re the the only author,

Of something serious, or absurd.

What then are you writing,

What’s your theme or plot so far?

Have you backed up for perspective,

What’s your muse or guiding star?

No one’s acting in a non-book,

All of life’s a turning point,

With some introspection,

The end will not disappoint.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Claque ... Hooray!

Today’s word is “claque” ... klak ... a group of persons hired to applaud an act or performer. a group of sycophants. (Dictionary.com)

Hooray!

Smile and bow for now,

The claque will soon turn away.

Where will hope be then?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Scrimshank ... No!

Today’s word is “scrimshank” ... skrim-shangk ... British Slang. to avoid one’s obligations or share of work; shirk. (Dictionary.com)

No!

In the public sphere,

Or quietly at home,

The scrimshank does his level best,

To retain his own shalom.

The papers pile up,

But he is busy thinking,

The sink with dishes overflows,

He’s at the t.v., winking.

He believes that somehow,

The work will disappear,

And unfortunately he’s right,

Others do it with no tears.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Attenuate ... Break

Today’s word is “attenuate” ... uh-ten-yoo-eyt ... to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value. (Dictionary.com)

Break
To stop all evil,
And attenuate the dark,
We must turn around.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Pneumatic ... Secret

pneumatic ... noo-mat-ik ... of or relating to air, gases or wind. Theology. Of or relating to the spirit; spiritual. (Dictionary.com)

Secret

What of this restless pneuma,

This surprise which lives within?

Some say that it does not exist,

Some say it’s marred by sin.

Some are convinced that matter,

Earth and simple stone,

Became alive by magic,

To love and dance and moan.

Others believe this consciousness,

An accident of fate,

Or gift of ancient mariners,

Who out in space still wait.

But finding love’s odd qualities,

Within this human race,

Mere chance seems most incapable,

Of explaining such a grace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Wastrel ... Spent

Today’s word is “wastrel” ... a wasteful person; spendthrift. (Dictionary.com)

Spent
Grasshoppers are gone,
Wastrels of the summertime.
Fat ants sleep below.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Eurhythmic ... Water

Today’s word is “eurhythmic” ... yoo-rith -mik ... characterized by a pleasing rhythm; harmoniously ordered or proportioned. (Dictionary.com)

Water

Wave follows wave,

     in eurythmic harmony,

          down the beach;

               alive in cold fall air.

Soon, under winter’s spell,

      they will freeze in place,

          mute witnesses to summer past.
But energy being everything,
      warm spring winds will breathe
          resurrection.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Fortitudinous ... Move

Today’s word is “fortitudinous” ... fawr-ti-tood-n-uh s ... marked by bravery or courage; having or showing fortitude. (Dictionary.com)

Move

Each and every day,

Steps forward and steps back,

We peer around each bend,

And try the signs to track.

Actions fortitudinous,

Move us along through time,

Binding hearts together,

As thin trails wind and climb.

Our journey is much better,

When we walk hand in hand,

Facing forward thus together,

All sorrow we’ll withstand.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Arete ... Talk

Today’s word is “arete” ... ahr-i-tey ... the aggregate of qualities, as valor and virtue, making up good character. (Dictionary.com)

Talk

The foolish of this world,

Who have of arete, none,

Speak in syllables,

Others choose to shun.

Not with facts and figures,

Do they prove their points,

But with attacks on character,

And rants with raised voice.

Until we all can listen,

With logic and with grace,

There will be no reconciliation,

Or compromise of place.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Earthshine ... Beam

Today’s word is “earthshine” ... urth-shahyn ... Astronomy. the illumination of the part of the moon not illuminated by sunlight, as during a crescent phase, caused by the reflection of light from the earth. (Dictionary.com)

Beam

It’s all in your perspective,
And what lights your way,
Starshine, moon, or earthshine,
Or something with more sway.

What’s brighter than the sunshine,
Or the moon in dark of night?
What in your heart and senses,
Can give to you such sight?

Only true words of wisdom,
And the light of God’s own son,
Will keep you safe in gracefulness,
When you have come undone.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Razzle-dazzle ... Cheers

Today’s word is “razzle-dazzle” ... raz-uh l-daz-uh l ... Informal. Showiness, brilliance, or virtuosity in technique or effect, often without concomitant, substance or worth; flashy theatricality. (Dictionary.com)

Cheers

She came in with razzle-dazzle,

Air kissing every cheek,

She was full of romance,

Nothing about her, meek.

Whirling all the evening,

From one chum to the next,

Uttering endearments,

Leaving others more than vexed.

She swept out as she swept in,

With a swoop and flair,

Leaving only gossip,

About why she’d been there.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Logrolling ... Balance

Today’s word is “logrolling” ... lawg-roh-ling ... U.S. Politics. the exchange of support or favors, especially by legislators for mutual political gain as by voting for each other’s bills. (Dictionary.com)

Balance

No lumberjacking this,

No logrolling sport,

But back scratching at its best,

Cooperation, of a sort.

Are we at least progressing?

Some times it’s hard to tell.

We the people hope for this,

To hear all will be well.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Enjambment ... Breakneck

Today’s word is “enjambment” ... en-jam-muh nt ... Prosody. the running on of the thought from one line, couplet, or stanza to the next without a syntactical break. (Dictionary.com)

Breakneck

Events come tumbling

One on top another,

Relentless.

We barely catch our breath

Before another assaults our senses,

Senseless.

This enjambment blinds

Confuses, numbs,

Frightens.

We would, without God’s love,

Be without hope; we are

Grateful.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Atemporal ... Make

Today’s word is “atemporal” ... ey-tem-per-uh l ... free from limitations. (Dictionary.com)

Make

Light from very light,

   Pure energy explodes,

Spinning into galaxies,

     Sending rocky offspring,

          Into brave new orbits.

And along the way,

     Somehow, inconceivably,

          Despite the inert whirling debris,

Life begins. How?

     Science remains silent, confounded.

           But in the atemporal reaches of mind,

The word creates all things.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Musette ... Respite

Today’s word is “musette” ... myoo-zet ... a small leather or canvas bag with a shoulder strap, used for carrying personal belongings, food, etc., while hiking, marching, or the like. Also called musette bag. (Dictionary.com)

Respite
A vacation small,
Away from the world and all,
A chance to see the trees,
And feel the gentle breeze.

Peace and quiet rare,
Clean and quiet air,
Little creatures hurry,
There’s no need to worry.

Inside your musette find,
Things for your state of mind,
Poetry and tunes,
For songs beneath the moon.

No need for iPads,
They’ll only make you sad,
Rely on nature’s cheer,
A solace always near.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Ebullient ... Schooled

Today’s word is “ebullient” ... ih-buhl-yuh nt” ... overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited. (Dictionary.com)

Schooled

The first day,

Ebullient faces 

Crowd the classroom.

They dive in,

Overwhelmed by facts

And fictions alike.

By June,

They run for freedom,

Unfazed by what’s ahead.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Hypogeal ... Root

Today’s word is “hypogeal” ... hahy-puh-jee-uh l ... underground; subterranean. (Dictionary.com)

Root

Hypogeal actions,

Sprout forth airborne progeny.

Hiding is futile.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017

Bonce ... Go

Today’s word is “bonce” ... bons ... noun. British Slang. head; skull. (Dictionary.com)

Go

Always use your bonce!

Friends may go another way ...

That path is well worn.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2017