Petrichor ... Coming

Today’s word is “petrichor” ... pe-tri-kawr ... a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground. (Dictionary.com)

Coming

Winter’s delaying departure,

His footsteps frozen in place,

Refusing with each blast of wind,

To give us a moment of grace.

But, we know that this pretense,

Has nearly run it’s due course,

Even the boldest, cold winter,

Bows to God’s more creative force.

Warmth is behind the curtain,

Holding her breath while she waits,

Watching winter stretch his performance,

Knowing she’ll never relate.

Soon her rain will comfort,

Petrichor will scent the ground,

We’ll forget the drifts of snowflakes,

And watch as life rebounds.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Divertissement ... Hide

Today’s word is “divertissement” ... dih-vur-tis-muhnt ... a diversion or entertainment. (Dictionary.com)

Hide

So many problems,

Distracting divertissements ...

Help us forget please.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Cozen ... Deep

Today’s word is “cozen” ... kuhz-uhh ... to cheat, deceive, or trick. (Dictionary.com)

Deep
There is no denying
     that this world is broken.
All around we find fakery. Cruelty.
     Expedience. 
People willing, eager,
     excited to wield their power.
To cozen, misrepresent,
     and alter the truth.
How can we remain pure 
     in such a place, surrounded
          as we are?
Even within our selves are 
     signs of disconnectedness.
Tendencies toward 
     our own self interest.
And yet, goodness, compassion,
     self sacrifice and love break through.
If we were on our own the good
     could not prevail ... ever.
But we are not alone in this.
     the one in whom we live
           stands by us.
Empowering us with love that’s
     stronger than all evil ...
          stronger than death.
In him our victory is sure.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Evenfall ... Patience

Today’s word is “evenfall” ... ee-vuhn-fawl ... twilight; dusk; the beginning of evening. (Dictionary.com)

Patience

For warm evenfall

We sigh, buried in blankets.

Each day a gift ... yet.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Halidom ... Home

Today’s word is “halidom” ... hal-i-duhm ... a holy place, as a church or sanctuary. (Dictionary.com)

Home

All creation sings.

This earth is a halidom.

Don’t blink. You’ll miss it!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Prodigal ... Gone

Today’s word is “prodigal” ... prod-i-guhl ... a wastefully or recklessly extravagant; giving or yielding profusely; very generous; lavish. (Dictionary.com)

Gone

The prodigal was lost,

Far away from home,

He’d taken everything,

His fortune, as he roamed.

Sitting in a pen with pigs,

He thought of the fun he’d had,

And how it was all over,

Gone from best to bad.

Back at his father’s house,

Even servants were content,

So he gathered his humility,

Turned his heart toward home, and went.

Before he could say a word,

His father wrapped him ‘round with love,

A true picture of his character,

A portrait of our God above.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Futilitarian ... Cloudy

Today’s word is “futilitarian” ... fyoo-til-i-tair-ee-uhn ... a person who believes (or the belief) that human hopes are vain, and human striving unjustified. (Dictionary.com)

Cloudy

Perhaps they are right ...

all futilitarians.

Without God, we die.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Tabula rasa ... Begin

Today’s word is “tabula rasa” ... tab-yuh-lah rah-suh ... a mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions, etc.; anything existing in its original state. (dictionary.com)

Begin

God spoke to the void,

A tabula rasa pure.

Creation’s canvas.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Behemoth ... Courage

Today’s word is “behemoth” ... bih-hee-muhth ... any creature or thing of monstrous size or power. (Dictionary.com)

Courage
Big things move so slowly,
Some of us would say,
Behemoths can’t maneuver,
They get in their own way.

Faster, tiny entities,
Spin and twirl and dive,
Moving as if their very lives,
Depend on how they strive.

Even unmatched power,
Can be handily undone,
By those who have a champion,
And know they’ve already won.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Mare ... Astronomical

Today’s word is “mare” ... Maher-ey ... Astronomy. any of the several large, dark plains on the moon and Mars: Galileo believed that the lunar features were seas when he first saw them through a telescope. (Dictionary.com)

Astronomical

If a mare was mistaken

For an ocean on the moon,

And named by misperception,

And it’s qualities presumed.

Could the same be said of us,

And the names we take?

Perhaps they’re not accurate,

And are given by mistake.

We’re all God’s sons and daughters,

Underneath our skin,

His love for us unending,

No matter who we’ve been.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Fourscore ... Wisdom

Today’s word is “fourscore” ... fair-skawr ... four times twenty; eighty. (Dictionary.com)

Wisdom

At Gettysburg, all sick at soul,

Mr. Lincoln spoke the words,

“Fourscore and seven years ago,”

And as he spoke the people stirred.

They were reminded of their country’s birth,

Of liberty, sacrifice and pain,

Of every persons’ equal worth,

And a country’s hope that would not wane.

Our inheritance of freedom’s given,

Yet we fight ourselves in doomful haste,

When in moments all could be forgiven,

And our conflict laid to waste.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Milieu ... Present

Today’s word is “milieu” ... mil-yoo ... surroundings, especially of a social or cultural nature. (Dictionary.com)

Present

A graceful milieu,

Full of light and God’s favor,

Hiding in plain sight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Snowbird ... North

Today’s word is “snowbird” ... snoh-burd ... Informal. a person who vacations in or moves to a warmer climAte during cold weather. (Dictionary.com)

North

Are snowbirds thinking about their return?

Giving up southern nests for those far north?

Their fine winter homes and old friends they’ll spurn,

Gathering their stuff, they’ll soon sally forth.

Perfect climate is the goal of it all,

Avoiding the ice, sleet, snow and the slush,

Threatening weather that might cause a fall,

(That would cause anyone southward to rush.)

It takes much effort to go round and round,

Packing up and leaving essential things,

Gathering each season the lost and found,

Clothes, books, groceries, glasses and rings.

Can we be content in all our places,

Knowing there we’ll find abundant graces?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Onomastic ... Where?

Today’s word is “Onomastic” ... on-uh-mas-tik ... of or relating to proper names. (Dictionary.com)

Where?

My onomastic brain is going,

How well I know that face,

But the name, the name is gone,

What is in it’s place?

A thousand lyrics I can beckon,

From that space within,

But the names won’t stay inside,

To exist beside that din.

So much information,

So little real control,

Please excuse my rolling eyes,

If right by you I should stroll.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Attractancy ... Hearts

Today’s word is “attractancy” ... uh-trak-tuhn-see ... the capacity, especially of a pheromone, to attract. (Dictionary.com)

Hearts

This attractancy,

Love’s magnetic, magic pull.

Irresistible.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Synastry ... Follow

Today’s word is “synastry” ... sin-uh-stree ... Astrology. the comparison of two or more natal charts in order to analyze or forecast the interaction of the individuals involved. (Dictionary.com)

Follow

A look, a thought,

     a sign or synastry,

Do these things guide your

     heart into true love,

          or merely mystify?

What invisible match ignites 
     a life-long fire?

Though we cannot see it,

     love lives around and in between us all.

          It is no less real because of this.

As it wends it’s way, it shimmers,

     sometimes quakes, leaving joy

          or brokenness behind.

But our love, imperfect as it is, 

     points to a more faithful love 

          which never fails.

Rest there, in peace and anticipation 

     of the wholeness which is to come.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Marvy ... Ideal

Today’s word is “marvy” ... mahr-vee ... Slang. marvelous; delightful. (Dictionary.com)

Ideal

Best of intentions ...

Such a marvy idea!

But. Consequences?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Amphiscians ...

Today’s word is “amphiscians” ... am-fish-ee-uhnz ... Archaic. Inhabitants of the tropics. (Dictionary.com)

Where?
Are you an amphiscian?
If you are you like the climes,
Where ferns grow tall and willowy,
Else you’d change your paradigm.

If you enjoy the winter wind,
Try Michigan this year,
The temperature will keep you in,
The fire will bring you cheer.

I hear the desert warms the heart,
For those who live where cati grow,
There they scoff at northern weather,
As their poolside bodies glow.

No matter where you find yourself,
On this great planet blue and green,
The wonders that surround you,
Are the best that have ever been.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Prebuttal ...

Today’s word is “prebuttal” ... pri-buht-l ... an argument constructed in anticipation of a criticism. (Dictionary.com)

Done

Despite all our flaws,

There’s no prebuttle needed.

We have been pardoned.

Anne aselleck

Copyright 2019

Inculpate ... Repeat

Today’s word is “inculpate” ... in-kuhl-peyt ... to charge with fault ; blame; accuse. (Dictionary.com)

Repeat
I try not to watch the disasters unfold,
Rantings and ramblings of misguided fools,
Each with a sermon that needs to be told,
Caught in their protected, comfortable schools.

By moorings they’re tethered tightly in place,
Repeating the words they’ve been taught to speak,
Wearing victim hood with no thought of grace,
Inculpating others who seem at their peak.

There’s no place for talk or changing of minds,
They think they know how the other will play,
Defenses are up; there’s no point to be kind,
Fingers in ears, they can’t hear what you say.

This won’t end well unless someone gives in,
Discards their feelings; acknowledges sin.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Roberant ... Storm

Today’s word ... the 2001st entry in this blog(!) ... is “roberant” ... rob-er-uhnt: strengthening. (Dictionary.com)

Storm

Though dark clouds come close,

Roberant words welcome us

In the heart of love.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Dullsville ...

Today’s word is “dullsville” ... duhlz-vil ... Slang. Something boring or dull. (Dictionary.com)

Locked

Children stuck at home ...

Waiting for the snow to stop.

It’s dullsville for sure!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Temerity ...

Today’s word is “temerity” ... tuh-mer-i-tee ... reckless boldness; rashness. (Dictionary.)

Have we the temerity,

To judge our God who saves?

To determine what will happen,

To us beyond the grave?

Are we so very wise,

That we can see each other’s sin,

And decide who’s worthy,

To begin again?

A little humility,

Might serve us in our plight,

As on our knees we offer,

Our will, to make things right.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Hoggery ... Sketch

Today’s word is “hoggery” ... haw-guh-ree ...slovenly or greedy behavior. (Dictionary.com)

Sketch

What’s this hoggery?

If you bend you will not break.

Widen your circle.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Rigmarole ... Effort

Today’s word is “rigmarole” ... rig-much-rohl ... an elaborate or complicated procedure: to go through the rigmarole of formal dinner. (Dictionary.com)

Effort

Nothing is too much,

It’s worth the rigmarole,

Becoming someone.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Hygge ... Home

Today’s word is “hygge” ... Hoog-uh ... the feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having conversations with friends or family, enjoying food, etc.

Home

Clothed in the spirit,

Warmed by the congregation,

Hygge fills us all.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Prognosticate ... Cascade

Today’s word is “prognosticate” ... prog-nos-ti-keyt ... to forecast or predict (something future) from present indications or signs; prophesy. (Dictionary.com)

Cascade

If we had any sense at all,

We’d not prognosticate,

Most events do not occur,

Or they’re too early, or too late.

God’s wisdom seems a better bet,

For those who need to know,

And more dependable indeed,

Than guesses from a day ago.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Sirenic ... Break

Today’s word is “sirenic” ... sahy-ren-ik ... melodious, tempting, or alluring. (Dictionary.com)

Break
The sun came back today,
After a week of snow
That blocked and stopped our way,
Trapped us, so we couldn’t go.

The sirenic sound of plows,
Cheered us as they came,
Freedom they allowed,
In this frozen game.

We thank God for heat,
For warm fires and for lights,
For plow drivers on our streets,
Who work both day and night.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019