Emporium ... Amazed

Today’s word is “emporium” ... em-pawr-ee-uhm ... a large retail store, especially one selling a great variety of articles. (Dictionary.com)

Amazed

In God’s emporium,

You cannot buy a vowel,

But if you are lucky,

You might see an owl.

There’re bugs and snakes galore,

Birds in every sky,

Fish swim in every depth,

We’re left to wonder why.

There is no entrance fee,

We’re free to watch it all,

Every creature on the earth,

The greatest to the small.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Spitzenburg ... Chill

Today’s word is “Spitzenburg” ... spit-suhn-burg ... any of several red or yellow varieties of apple that ripen in the autumn. (Dictionary.com)

Chill

The last warm days are here,,

The last mums cheerfully wave,

Pumpkins appear in the stores,

Fresh from fields where they laid.

In profusion apples display,

Brazen in all of their kinds,

Spitzenburgs, Rayburns, Delicious,

Too many to keep in your mind.

Children are back in their schools,

Listening and learning at last,

Taking the future away with them,

Away from the things of the past.

Changes in season and age,

Are constant and common, not rare,

We see them within and without,

As we live and we dream and we dare.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Maugre ... Tracks

Today’s word is “maugre” ... in spite of; notwithstanding. (Dictionary.com)

Tracks

It is surprising that in maugre
     childhoods of unease and fear,
Somehow lives find a path
     that lead to wholeness.
Faced with unpredictable parents
     and rules impossible to follow,
          the turns are sharp and unexpected.
Negotiating feelings and perceptions,
     refusing to believe lies about
          themselves, they thrive.
Holding on to some small hope,
     is enough sometimes. Grateful 
          for a vision of the future
               they carry on.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Viridity ...

Today’s word is “viridity” ... vuh-rid-i-tee ... youth; innocence; inexperience. (Dictionary.com)

Someday

She spoke with passion.

Her viridity charming.
Anger in her mouth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Simper ... Testify

Today’s word is “simper” ... sim-per ... to smile in a silly, self-conscious way. (Dictionary.com)

Testify
His smile a simper,
He began to tell stories.
But they turned their backs.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Isobar ... Weather

Today’s word is “isobar” ... ahy-sun-bahr ... a line drawn on a weather map or chart that connects points at which the barometric pressure is the same. (Dictionary.com)

Weather
This planet, so complex ...
   the weather person watching isobars,
     and wind speed and such, quivers
          with uncertainty.
Trying to predict with some percent
     over fifty fifty, the sunshine
          or rain or snow for tomorrow.
(I carry my umbrella and boots and 
     mittens and jacket just in case.)
Now it seems they’ve set themselves
     a higher bar. Predicting the weather
          for the next decade.
I hope they’re polishing their models.
     So far I don’t know how to dress
           for tomorrow.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

outré ... Good

Today’s word is “outré” ... oo-trey ... passing the bounds of what is usual or considered proper; unconventionality; bizarre. (Dictionary.com)

Good

There are holy moments,

Written words and saints,

Breaking through the darkness,

Though we with fear may faint.

The world may disregard,

With outré manifest,

God’s gift of graciousness,

Yet his followers are blest.

Darkness cannot resist,

The power of truth revealed,

It cowers in the smallest light,

And will be forced to kneel.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Gossamer ...

Today’s word is “gossamer” ... gos-uh-mer ... a fine, filmy cobweb seen on grass or bushes or floating in the air in calm weather, especially in autumn. (Dictionary.com)

Change
Gossamer clouds float.
Summer warmth stops in it’s tracks.
Fall steps in and runs.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Roscian ... Filled

Today’s word is “Roscian” ... rosh-ee-uhn ... of, relating to, or involving acting. (Dictionary.com)

Filled

Brave, those underground.

Roscians yet believers.

Filled with holy fire.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

prévenance ... Visit

Today’s word is “prévenance” ... pre-vuh-nahns ... special care in anticipating or catering to the needs and pleasures of others. (Dictionary.com)

Visit
Walking in we knew at once,
The prévenance was all around,
They had been expecting us,
They’d gathered gifts all over town.

They put us in expensive chairs,
And gave us water, treats and wine,
Conversation like a river flowed,
And through windows bright sun shined.

Later on we found our place,
Around the dinner table fine,
We feasted til we could no more,
Then watched a movie in recline.

When day was done we found our bed,
As cozied children, slept the night,
When morning came, the visit done,
Grateful for friendship, we took flight.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Galvanize ... Wait

Today’s word is “galvanize” ... gal-vuh-nahyz ... to startle into sudden activity; stimulate. (Dictionary.com)

Wait

Change will come along,

When the good is galvanized.

Until then. Hang on.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Swashbuckler ... Legend

Today’s word is “swashbuckler” ... swosh-buhk-ler ... a swaggering swordsman, soldier, or adventurer; daredevil. (Dictionary.com)

Legend

I haven’t seen a swashbuckler,

Around my neighborhood,

An explorer or a ranging rogue,

Fighting for the good.

No dragons green nor dinosaurs,

Have graced my grassy yard,

Living in this normal land,

Is sometimes very hard.

If it wasn’t for the angels,

Who take wing within my heart,

I’d think the rest fantastic,

Merely magician’s art.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

a gogo ... Worlds

Today’s word is “à gogo” ... uh-goh-goh ... as much as you like; to your heart’s content; galore. (Dictionary.com)

World’s

Read! Read everything!

Read à gogo all the day!

And words become flesh.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Preamble ... Foresight

Today’s word is “preamble” ... pree-am-buhl ... the introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution, setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union. ...”

Foresight

There is one preamble,

That sets us far apart,

From all other countries,

And this at our very start.

No matter all the hate,

And confusion about our birth,

Still we’re the most equitable,

Most free people on the earth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Clamant ... Idol

Today’s word is “clamant” ... kley-muhnt ... compelling or pressing; urgent. (Dictionary.com)

Idol

The clamant reason,

For our constant discontent:

We chart our own course.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019&

Refugium ... Lifted

Today’s word is “refugium” ... ri-fyoo-jee-uhm ... an area where special circumstances have enabled a species or a community of species to survive after extinction in surrounding areas. (Dictionary.com)

Lifted

We are in the world, not of it,

Our refugium is the church,

A place where we can gather,

To rest and then to search.

But the reason for the resting,

Is to once again go out,

To spread the grace-filled message,

That God’s love’s is all about.

Anne Selleck 

Copyright 2019

Contranym ... Opposition

Today’s word is “contranym” ... Kohn-truh-nim ... a word that has opposite or nearly opposite meanings, as cleave, meaning “to adhere closely” and “to part or split”.

Opposition

We are contranyms.

Saints and sinners, all of us.

Yet there’s redemption.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Bona fides ... Free

Today’s word is “bona fides” ... boh-nah fee-des ... good faith; absence of fraud or deceit; the state of being exactly as claims or appearances indicate. (Dictionary.com)

Free

When Jesus walked the earth,

His bona fides was complete,

He was Truth personified,

In him God and man did meet.

He is the example.

Of what we can become,

Once he lives within us,

God’s one and only Son.

He is our redemption,

Regeneration and release,

Given to us by his loving Grace,

He is our Lord of peace.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Ciceronian ... Words

Today’s word is “Ciceronian” ... sis-uh-roh-nee-uhn” ... characterized by melodious language, clarity, and forcefulness of presentation, as in the style of Cicero. (Dictionary.com)

Words

No quotes Ciceronian,

Have been heard for years,

Most politicians speaking,

Bring us near to tears.

And they do go on and on,

Spouting much confusion,

Hoping that the rest of us,

Will fall for their delusions.

We must make up our own minds,

About the problems of the day,

One thing we know for certain,

We’re the ones who’re bound to pay!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Epistolary ... Stamped

Today’s word is “epistolary” ... ih-pis-tl-er-ee ... contained in or carried on by letters. (Dictionary.com)

Stamped

In my early years on earth,

Romance was a simpler thing,

Epistolary treasures flew,

And love to us did bring.

Now amongst zeros and ones,

Are messages enfaced,

But with one swipe the greatest,

Can simply be erased.

Yet hidden deep in drawers and books,

Secrets revelations lie,

Waiting to remind the old,

That love will never die.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Slubber ... Fail

Today’s word is “slubber” ... sluhb-er ... to perform hastily or carelessly. (Dictionary.com)

Fail

He knew not how, so

he slubbered his way around.

But he could not hide.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Ikebana ... Stun

Today’s word is “ik-uh-bah-nuh” ... the Japanese art of arranging flowers. (Dictionary.com)

Stun

Are the flowered fields

artful as ikebana?
Joy dances between.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Embosom ... What?

Today’s word is “embosom” ... em-boo-zuhm ... to cherish; foster. (Dictionary.com)

What?

There is little use

for a word like embosom.

Archaic it is.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Rarefied ... Pure

Today’s word is “rarefied” ... rair-uh-fahyd ... extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted. (Dictionary.com)

Pure

The rarefied air

Holds no special oxygen.

We breathe in and out.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Chirography ... Loopy

Today’s word is “chirography” ... kahy-rog-ruh-fee ... handwriting; penmanship. (Dictionary.com)

Loopy

Beautiful chirography,

The children do not know,

They cannot read or comprehend,

This art form’s going to go.

It saddens those of us who draw,

Those swirls and loops of ink,

Creating graceful messages,

That trace the way the writer thinks.

Perhaps in many ages hence,

Museums will, in cases,

Display pages full of cursive words,

From all the world’s places.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Magnanimous ... One

Today’s word is “magnanimous” ... mag-nan-uh-muhs ... generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentful ness or vindictiveness. (Dictionary.com)

One

He’s magnanimous,

Even forgiving evil.

So unusual.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Daffing ... Happy

Today’s word is “daffing” ... daf-ing ... merriment; playful behavior; foolishness. (Dictionary.com)

Happy

Can a kitty be accused,

Of trickery and daffing?

Are we not always amused?

It’s hard to keep from laughing.

But to them, it is not play,

More, honing of their skills,

The pounce and wiggle both betray,

The lack of their goodwill.

Soft and fuzzy in the house,

They laze away the hours,

Content to swat a small toy mouse,

Though no challenge to their powers.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Hive mind ... Buzz

Today’s word is “hive mind” ... hahyv mahynd ... a collective conscious, analogous to the behavior of social insects. (Dictionary.com)

Buzz

The free-thinkers are few,

The rest, bend to the hive mind,

Conformity commands,

And from it behavior winds.

Digging deep takes work,

Not many love the task,

Truth hides it’s secrets deep,

And one has to ask.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Operose ... Sage

Today’s word is “operose” ... op-uh-rohs ... done with or involving much labor. (Dictionary.com)

Sage

Operose learning,

Is there any other kind?

Studies of the heart?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Elide ... Secret

Today’s word is “elide” ... ih-lahyd ... to suppress; omit; ignore; pass over. (Dictionary.com)

Secret
Faith may elide some,
Those without eyes to see it,
Yet it’s everywhere.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019