Velutinous ... Bold

Today’s word is “velutinous” ... vuh-loot-n-uhs ... having a soft, velvety surface, as certain plants. (Dictionary.com)

New

Velutinous greening lamb’s ears,

Tulips breaking ground,

A red bud’s morning glory,

Crocus newly found.

Wonders burst upon us,

All the springtime long,

Waiting for acknowledgement,

In prayer or praising song.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Nadir ... Look!

Today’s word is “nadir” ... nay-der ... the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair. (Dictionary.com)

Look!

The clouds are dark now,

Is this the nadir we see?

Bright light silhouettes.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Metathesis ...

Today’s word is “metathesis” ... muh-tath-uh-sis ... the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation aks for ask. (Dictionary.com)

Lead

Though his words are odd,

Full of metathesis strange,

Everyone follows.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Knackered ... Chase

Today’s word is “knackered” ... nak-erd ... exhausted; very tired. (Dictionary.com)

Chase

The little kitten’s wide, bright eyes,

Followed the laser light,

He fiercely pounced on it, but,

It refused to fight.

He chased it up and down the hall,

Around the couch and chairs,

Until knackered, he just stopped.

Tired of the whole affair.

Tomorrow he’ll be watching,

For that crafty little light,

He’ll give that kitty shimmy ...

But for now, “good night.”

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Impedimenta ... There

Today’s word is “impedimenta” ... im-ped-uh-men-tuh ... baggage or other things that retard one’s progress, as supplies carried by an army. (Dictionary.com)

There

We all have untold sorrows,

     the impedimenta of our lives,

Which we often carry bravely,

     or poorly, as we strive,

You cannot always see them,

     these things which weigh us down,

Yet they may make us waver,

     or cry without a sound.

Be gentle with each other,

     as each of us needs grace,

And kindness makes a difference,

     when we are face to face.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

     

Skimble-scamble ... Ouch

Today’s word is “skimble-scamble” ... rambling; confused; nonsensical. (Dictionary.com)

Ouch

Most of what I hear these days,

Is skimble-scamble noise,

Making heads or tales of it,

Is a puzzle that annoys.

I want to take myself away,

To a peaceful place,

Where I can rest my restless soul,

In God’s complete embrace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Optics ... Certain

Today’s word is “optics” ... op-tiks ... the way a situation, action, event, etc., is perceived by the public or by a particular group of people. (Dictionary.com)

Certain

Though mad optics scream,

Truth waits quietly for light.

She always comes forth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Isolato ... Naive

Today’s word is “isolato” ... ahy-suh-ley-toh ... a person who is physically or spiritually isolated from their times or society. (Dictionary.com)

Naive
The cave was snug and warm,
The isolato contemplated,
Protected from the negative,
And problems thus related.

He knew that just outside his door,
The rain was threatening thunder,
But no wet ones would dare enter in,
Except by mistaken blunder.

So he brewed himself some tea.
And sipped in blissful state,
He’d linger while waiting for the sun,
Which would come ... soon or late.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Plumbeous ... Acquiesce

Today’s word is “plumbeous” ... pluhm-bee-uhs ...resembling or containing lead; leaden. (Dictionary.com)

Acquiesce 

Plumbeous ice flows

Slowly melt into their source.

The new on its way.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Earthshaking ... Quake

Today’s word is “earthshaking” ... urth-shey-king ... imperiling, challenging, or affecting basic beliefs, attitudes, relationships, etc.

Quake

Can we begin to contemplate,

     the most earthshaking thing,

Not that more chaos will ensue,

     or that life will sorrows bring.

Those are facts that can’t be changed,

     and yet there’s more you see,

The rare but real exceptions,

     where love agrees to be.

Though we cannot see it,

     it flows through every day,

Born of hearts by God inspired,

     all evil it outweighs.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Palimpsest ... Careful

Today’s word is “palimpsest” ... pal-imp-sest ... a parchment or the like from which writing has been partially or completely erased to make room for another text. (Dictionary.com)

Careful

As we change our history,

What doesn’t change are facts,

Perhaps we should remember,

The consequences of our acts.

If life becomes a palimpsest,

And generations unaware,

They will repeat our past mistakes,

As if they’d been dared.

Hiding unpleasant paintings,

Silencing opposing views,

Will make for blinkered terror,

Truly, nothing’s new.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Wellspring ... One

Today’s word is “wellspring” ... wel-spring ... a source or supply of anything, especially when considered inexhaustible. (Dictionary.com)

One

We’ve searched forever,

For the wellspring of good things.

There is only one.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Bracketology ... Guess

Today’s word is “bracketology” ... brak-i-tol-uh-jee ... a system of diagrammatically predicting and tracking the process of elimination among sequentially paired opponants in a tournament especially an NCAA basketball tournament. (Dictionary.com) (No, I have no idea what that is!)

Guess
Deep into the wiley ways
Of bracketology,
The pundits of the basketball,
Make artifacts for archeology.

What will those future people think,
About all the thought and time,
Put into choices and on bets,
To try to make a dime.

Wouldn’t it be much more fun,
To wait and be surprised,
Than to spend your precious energy,
Watching your hopes capsize?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Green-eyed ... Shiny

Green-eyed ... green-ahyd ... jealous; envious; distrustful. (Dictionary.com)

Shiny

When I am a star,

All my friends will be green-eyed,

Said the hopeful one.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Viator ... Meander

Today’s word is “viator” ... vahy-ey-tawr ... a wayfarer; traveler. (Dictionary.com)

Meander

Through the hills and valleys,

The weary viators walk,

They note no cheery sunsets,

They find it hard to talk.

Their feet hurt from their sandals,

Their backs are tired and sore,

The journey stretches onward,

They’re not sure they can take more.

But somehow the next morning,

After long, restoring rest,

They gather up their burdens,

And carry on with zest.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Fantods ... Pokey

Today’s word is “fantods” ... fan-tods ... a state of extreme nervousness or restlessness; the willies; the fidgets. (Dictionary.com)

Pokey

Spring comes so slowly ...

Tiny bud by tiny bud.

I’ve got the fantods!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Upper crust ... Stratification

Today’s word is “upper crust” ... uhp-Er kruhst ... the highest social class. (Dictionary.com)

Stratification

In their universe,

The upper crust wields power.

Under them trust wilts.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Diffidence ... Still

Today’s word is “diffidence” ... dif-i-duhns ... the quality or state of lacking confidence in one’s ability, worth or fitness; timidity. (Dictionary.com)

Still

We’ve been given everything,

All the whistles and the bells,

Yet with diffidence we wait,

Hoping others will the battle quell.

We don’t know enough, we think,

To change the course of big events,

But prayers are things as great as power,

As long as they are true when sent.

So using every latent touch,

We strive to bring a touch of grace,

Each of us a facet of the whole,

Expressions of our savior’s face.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Facetiae ... Giggles

Today’s word is “facetiae” ... fuh-see-shee-ee ... amusing or witty remarks or writings. (Dictionary.com) (Pretty sure no one I know will be using this word anytime soon!)

Giggles

Such facetiae ...

Humor lifts the downtrodden.

We enlighten up.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Myopic ... Squint

Today’s word is “myopic” ... mahy-op-ik ... nearsighted; unable or unwilling to act prudently; shortsighted. (Dictionary.com)

Squint

We’re as myopic as Mr. Magoo,

Stumbling comically down a straight path,

Causing confusion and misunderstanding,

Incurring resentment and outright wrath.

We really can’t help it with our handicaps,

We honestly can’t see our feet on the floor,

We know where we’re headed, but in our haste,

We mistake the wall for a wide open door.

What we need now is a new pair of glasses,

That will allow us to see all that is there,

This new perspective might save us some heartache,

And give us more hope than a wing and a prayer.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Eyewinker ... Blink

The word of the day for March 9, 2019 (which I missed!!!) was
“Eyewinker” ... ahy-win-ker ... an eyelash; anything that enters or irritates the eye and causes blinking. (Dictionary.com)

Blink
Did you think that I was crying?
No, just an eyewinker I think,
Those tragedies don’t bother me,
Though I’m standing on the brink.

Just when I think that sanity’s,
Coming back in style,
That little place of goodness,
Only lasts a little while.

Hang on to your happiness,
Revel in your joy,
Keep faith in all the good things,
That evil can’t destroy.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Temporize ...

Today’s word is “temporize” ... tem-puh-rahyz ... to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting. (Dictionary.com)

Decide

Chaos looms and yet,

They temporize and stew,

Decisions are delayed,

Where is something new?

Who cares enough to stand,

And champion a way,

Despite a rocky road,

And those who want to stay?

Place your foot upon the rock,

Turn your back to windy fear,

The lord of love is at your side,

Peace now. He is here.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Regina ... Realm

Today’s word is “regina” ... queen. (Dictionary.com)

Realm

Wrapped in a blanket,

Dolls sitting about her feet,

She, regina, reigns.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Heiligenschein ... Transparent

Today’s word is “heiligenschein” ... hahy-li-guhn-shahyn ... a ring of light around the shadow cast by a person’s head, especially on a dewy, sunlit lawn, caused by reflection and diffraction of light rays; halo. (Dictionary.com)

Transparent

You will know them

     when you see them,

When you hear their voices,

     sweet as rain.

They are the ones who’ve come ...

     the same way as we all have come,

But they have let the light come in;

     it shines in them and around them,

          like a heiligenschein.

Some call them saints; we are all

     saints and sinners ...

But they would deny their saintliness,

     having found true humility.

One day perhaps, if we pay attention

     to God’s voice, we will open our eyes,

          and find the light all around and in us,

               like a love we’ve never known.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Nice-nellyism ... Verbose

Today’s word is “nice-nellyism” ... nahys-nel-ee-iz-uhm ... a euphemism: an evasive style of writing, full of circumlocutions and nice-nellyisms. (Dictionary.com)

Verbose

Nice-nellyisms

Will not all of us confuse.

We know it’s a game.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Voluble ...

Today’s word is “voluble” ... vol-yuh-buhl ... characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative: a voluble spokesman for the cause. (Dictionary.com)

Right

As you listen to their words,

Flowing voluble into space,

And wonder at their lack of sense,

And in particular, lack of grace,

It seems that these very broken ones,

Are unaware of their lost state,

They wildly fling their guile about,

As if disagreements can be won with hate.

Disparaging all those they fight against,

Only locks the others in their stance,

How can the sides seek compromise,

Hear the music, choose to dance?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Pettifog

Today’s word is “pettifog” ... pet-ee-fog ... to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters. (Dictionary.com)

Pick

They will pettifog,

Shouting loud in the backseat.
Who will take the wheel?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Melic ... Undone

Today’s word is “melic” ... mel-ik ... intended to be sung. (Dictionary.com)

Undone

I’d have liked to listen to a psalm,

Sung in sorrow or in praise,

It’s melic poetry given wings,

To fly within God’s loving gaze.

Words are necessary things,

But the spirit is set free,

As music opens inner doors,

Where wordless we can be.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Animus ... Truce

Today’s word is “animus” ... an-uh-muhs ... strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity. (Dictionary.com)

Truce
So much animus,
All different ideas feared.
Where is our center?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2017

Tergiversate ... Floating

Today’s word is “tergiversate” ... tur-ji-ver-seyt ... to change repeatedly one’s attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate. (Dictionary.com)

Floating

He tergiversates.

Trust falling with each sentence.

A rudderless boat.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019