Adventitious ... Chance

Today’s word is “adventitious” ... ad-vuhn-tish-uhs ... associated with something by chance rather than as an integral part; extrinsic. (Dictionary.com)

Chance
Was it merely adventitious
    when the earth found its orbit?
And dry land arose out of the blackness
     of the sea?
When the first animal inhaled 
     its first breath and birthed its
          first offspring?
Was it an accident when human
     consciousness informed us that
         we were different,
That there is more to us than this
     flesh and bone?
Chance does not begin to explain
     our DNA; or our claim to fame.
There are signs in the mystery ...
     if we choose to read them.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Banalize ... Spin

Today’s word is “banalize” ... buh-nal-ahyz ... to render or make devoid of freshness or originality. (Dictionary.com)

Spin

Some days it seems right,

     to ignore everything but the present moment ...

If you can do it, 

     your day will be most peaceful.

Keeping everyone else in line, however,

     might be a problem as they race pell-mell

          toward you with the latest news.

They may frown as you wave them away,

     saddened by your disinterest.

They may protest, “but”, “but” ...

     “This is really important!”

If you do listen for a moment you will find

     they have banalized most every fact.

And that the most important news they

     have has been going on for most of

          human history.
So, don’t feel bad, hiding in your office or gazebo,
     your garage or studio.
Be at peace. Pray. Meditate. Soothe your soul with
     your writing, painting, reading, puzzle solving.

The world will still turn. You can watch it occasionally
     from your window.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Wiredraw ... News

Today’s word is “wiredraw” ... wahyuhr-draw ... to strain unwarrantably, as in meaning. (Dictionary.com)

News
The more they try to say,
The less they gain your trust,
They wiredraw their arguments,
Leaving logic in the dust.

Too much information,
Spread throughout the land,
Only hurts the cause,
Of this unhappy band.

Just give us the facts,
The truth we will discern,
We see your fingerprints,
Your reputation you will earn.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Sanguine ... Precious

Today’s word is “sanguine” ... sang-gwin ... cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident. (Dictionary.com)

Precious
Can we be sanguine,
Relax into the beauty,
Enjoy our life now?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Peacherino ... Happy

Today’s word is “peacherino” ... pee-chuh-ree-noh ... a person or thing that is especially attractive, liked, or enjoyed. (Dictionary.com)

Happy
The little child crowed,
She was a peacherino.
Laughing through her life.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Electorate ... Choose

Today’s word is “electorate” ... ih-lek-ter-it ... the body of persons entitled to vote in an election. (Dictionary.com)

Choose

The electorate is all of us,

And opinions never end,

Left and right and in between,

So many just won’t bend.

But we vote and hopefully,

Accept wisdom’s choice,

Then if unhappy, wait a while,

To reassert our voice.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Dvandva... Level

Today’s word is dvandva ... “dvahn-dvah” ... a compound word neither element of which is subordinate to the other, as bittersweet. (Dictionary.com)

Level

We need a dvandva.

To even the uneven.

But how would it work?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Texlationship ... Who?

Today’s word is “texlationship” ... tekst-ley-shuhn-ship ... a relationship or association between people who text each other frequently, but rarely if ever interact with each other in person. (Dictionary.com)

Who?

So now it’s come to this,

As you’re sitting in your room,

Talking to your best friend,

Expressing all your gloom.

Your romantic one and only,

Has not responded in an hour,

Has this rare texlationship,

Now begun to sour?

It’s true you’ve never met,

Looked each other in the eye,

Rolled on the floor in laughter,

Held each other as you cried.

But was this love not real?

Did not feelings flow?

If they do not answer ...

You may never know.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Snoot ... Better

Today’s word is “snoot” ... snoot ... to behave disdainfully toward; condescend to; nose. (Dictionary.com)

Better

Snoots up in the air;

That’s how they travel around.

But they can’t see you.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Hyperbolic ... Vision

Today’s word is “hyperbolic” ... hahy-per-bol-ik ... exaggerated. (Dictionary.com)

Visions

When heaven is seen,

There is no hyperbole.

Your words are too small.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Omphaloskepsis ... Tip

Today’s word is “omphaloskepsis” ... om-fuh-loh-skep-sis ... contemplation of one’s navel as part of a mystical exercise; navel-gazing. (Dictionary.com) Oh! Thanks for the challenge Dictionary.com!!!

Tip

He was sitting on the mountain top,

Thinking of important things,

Hoping his deep omphaloskepsis,

Would to him wisdom bring.

But sitting there for hours,

Only left him feeling weak,

Soon then in his agony,

He to himself began to speak.

He talked himself into some lunch,

And then into a nap,

Then back down the path he went,

With no compass and no map.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2018

Punditocracy ...

Today’s word is “punditocracy” ... puhn-di-tok-ruh-see ... influential media pundits collectively. (Dictionary.com)

Opinion
Listen to them talk.
The punditocracy knows.
Attention their goal.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Xeric ... Fertile

Today’s word is “xeric” ... zeer-ik ... of, relating to, or adapted to a dry environment. (Dictionary.com)

Fertile

The flowers in our front yard,

Must all xeric be,

It’s dessert dry and sandy,

And hot, measured by degree.

But move into the backyard,

Where shade cools and protects,

You’ll find that lush green ferns,

Never suffer from neglect.

The right soil and sunshine,

Encourage life to grow,

Mysteriously arranging,

How, we do not know.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Luminary ... Perceive

Today’s word is “luminary” ... loo-muh-ner-ee ... a person who has attained eminence in his or her field or is an inspiration to others. (Dictionary.com)

Perceive 
Luminaries shine
But cannot change the darkness.
That light is within.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Redoubtable ... Encounter

Today’s word is “redoubtable” ... ri-dou-tuh-buhl ... that is to be feared; formidable. (Dictionary.com)

Encounter

Some things seem redoubtable,

Impossible to beat,

We should just give up now,

‘Cause we’ll end up in defeat.

But hold on just a minute,

Are you sure there’s not a chance?

To state your reasons logically,

In the apologetic dance?

Just because they’re scary,

Doesn’t mean they’re right,

Your words too have power,

And you might win the fight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Beadledom ... Boss

Today’s word is “beadledom” ... beed-l-duhm ... a gratuitous or officious display or exercise of authority, as by petty officials. (Dictionary.com)

Boss

The posing is real,

Beadledom reigns everywhere,

True dignity, rare.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Golden ... Gone

Today’s word is “golden” ... gohl-duhn ... indicating the fiftieth event of a series.(Dictionary.com)

Gone

Fifty! Fifty years!

The golden years that fly by.

And yet, we’re still young.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Plebeian ... Obvious

Today’s word is “plebeian”  ... pli-bee-uhn ... common, commonplace, or vulgar. (Dictionary.com)

Obvious
Even the most plebeian,
Can see before their eyes,
When facts just don’t add up,
And the air is full of lies.

Stay as wise as serpents,
Be gentle then as doves,
Is the advice we’re given,
To strengthen us with love.

So we make our way,
Through this tangled space,
Watching every step,
Relying on God’s Grace.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Donnybrook ... Mismatch

Today’s word is “donnybrook” ... don-ee-brook ... an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all. (Dictionary.com)

Mismatch
We fight over everything.
Religion and politics.
Too many items in a shopping cart.
What a teenager should wear to school.
We fight over parking spots and tennis shoes.
Over important concepts and nothing.
Soon the Black Friday donnybrook
     will be upon us.
Looking down from outer space
     (a great vantage point for self-reflection)
          we can’t believe in ourselves.
It seems love should be an easy choice.
     It isn’t. We love ourselves more than others.
Until we can reverse that order, be prepared
     to keep your guard up.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Subitize ... Check

Today’s word is “subitize” ... soo-bi-tahyz ... to make an immediate and accurate reckoning of the number of items in a group or sample without needing to pause and actually count them. (Dictionary.com)

Check

Math. Add and subtract.

Subitize and multiply.

Divide and conquer.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Utopian ... Search

Today’s word is “utopian” ... yoo-toh-pee-uhn ... founded upon or involving idealized perfection. (Dictionary.com)

Search

We can create it.

Our own utopian dream.

It will work this time.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Shivaree ... Treed

Today’s word is “Shivaree” ... shiv-uh-ree ... a mock serenade with kettles, pans, horns, and other noisemakers given for a newly married couple; charivari. (Dictionary.com)

Treed

Such a racket up above!

Like a shivaree,

They are talking all at once,

Way up in a tree.

They are not happy, I must say,

As they squawk and chatter,

Even though I’m watching them,

It doesn’t seem to matter.

Looking ‘round, I see the cat,

Camouflaged by flowers,

Even so, they see him,

With their squirrel powers.

Soon enough, he’s bored, and runs,

Into the house for dinner,

Slowly licking his paws clean,

He thinks that he’s the winner!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Today’s word is “facicle” ... fas-i-kuhl ... a section of a book or set of books being published in installments as separate pamphlets or volumes. (Dictionary.com)

Syllable 

Words in books are everywhere,

In fascicles and dictionaries,

They’re permanent, not temporary,

Like those upon a screen.

Those books will hang around,

On shelves and tables piled,

Read by adult and child,

Passing knowledge on.

But the best of words are written,

On hearts open like a book,

Where everyone can look,

And read them with a smile.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Cat’s-paw ... Come

Today’s word is “cat’s-paw” ... kats-paw ... a person used to serve the purposes of another; tool. (Dictionary.com)

Come

They come innocent.

By their trials money flows.

Each one a cat’s-paw.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Manque ... Run

Today’s word is “manqué” ...mahng-key ... mahng-key ... having failed, missed, or fallen short, especially because of circumstances or a defect of character; unsuccessful. (Dictionary.com)

Run

We live manqué lives,

Yet grace follows everywhere,

Waiting for the turn.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Spondulicks ... Blossom

Today’s word is “spondulicks” ... spon-doo-liks ... money; cash. (Dictionary.com)

Blossom

How much is enough?

Spondulicks, gold, doubloons, cash ...

Or nature alone.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Intellection ... Righteous

Today’s word is “intellection” ... in-tl-ek-shuhn ... the action or process of understanding; the exercise of the intellect; reasoning. (Dictionary.com)

Righteous

He cocked his head and stroked his beard,

His intellection on display,

Deep, dense thoughts were on his mind,

His eyes to the ceiling strayed.

His pipe smoke swirled in circles,

As he sat back in his chair,

His feet propped up upon his desk,
Equations in the air.

The world to him made total sense,
And he lectured from his stance,
Anyone who did not agree,
Was not allowed to dance.

One day a small doubt appeared,
And opened in his mind a crack,
As he pursued this new course,
He knew he’d not come back.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Stolid ...

Today’s word is “stolid” ... stol-id ... not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional; impassive. (Dictionary.com)

When belief is sure,

The stolid ones will stand strong,

Committed to truth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Vinculum ... Menu

Today’s word is “vinculum” ... ving-kyuh-luhm ... a bond signifying union or unity; tie. (Dictionary.com)

Menu

Though some eat meat and some do not,

We find a vinculum,

In potatoes and fruit that’s sweet,

There is no rancor, none.

Corn on the cob and strawberries,

Are feasted on the same.

There’s no ruckus about the plate,

And nobody to blame.

Lettuce and zucchini green,

Are met with happy smiles,

And for some reason doughnuts,

Are not at all on trial.

So we share with pleasure,

Those things which don’t divide,

And treat the others carefully,

Or leave them on the side.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Slake ...

Today’s word is “slake” ... sleyk ... to lessen (thirst, desire, wrath, etc.) by satisfying. (Dictionary.com)

Ask

Curiosity,

Will not be slaked by mere facts.

There is still the why.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

August ... Notes

Today’s word is “August” ... aw-guhst ... inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic. (Dictionary.com)

Notes

August words are read.

Truth rings through them like bells.

Their song fills the air.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019