Roman ,,, Poised

Today’s word is “Roman” ... a novel. (Dictionary.com)

Poised
He wrote a roman,
Congratulated himself,
Waited breathlessly.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Corybantic ... Focus

Today’s word is “corybantic” ... frenzied; agitated; unrestrained. (Dictionary.com)

Focus
As their language took control,
Took over in its rage,
Corybantic, not content,
Not the language of a sage.

The anger and the accusations,
Overrode the facts,
Suddenly it was too late,
To try to take it back.

Now the gist is in the mill,
And the stones are turning,
Those who choose to ignore the truth,
Will soon enough be learning.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Folsom ... Prayer

Today’s word is “foison” ... abundance; plenty. (Dictionary.com)

Prayer
A day of foison,
Freedom, food and favor
Now we remember.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Postprandial ... Preview

Today’s word is “postprandial” ... after a meal, especially after dinner: postprandial oratory; a postprandial brandy. (Dictionary.com)

Preview
Thanksgiving is tomorrow,
We will eat everything,
Turkey and the trimmings,
And whatever guests will bring.

Between the mashed potatoes,
And the pumpkin pie,
The homemade breads and rolls,
Our diets we’ll defy.

Later, as the sugars rush,
And we start to yawn,
We’ll need a postprandial nap,
To be able to go on.

Though it does not seem possible,
As we laze about in chairs,
Soon our hunger will return,
And we’ll eat again without a care.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Stargazer ... Sparkle

Today’s word is “stargazer” ... a daydreamer. (dictionary.com)

Sparkle
Stargazers look up! 
A special star is coming.
It’s hidden in hope.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Horoogium ... Tick

Today’s word is “horologium” ... a timepiece, as a clock or sundial, or a building supporting or containing a timepiece. (Dictionary.com)

Tick
In his horologium,
He hides eons of time,
They appear as minutes, hours and days,
Yet are coincidentally divine.

We cannot see outside ourselves,
We’re hidden well inside,
He holds us in eternity,
Where angels too abide.

Someday we will rise above,
This pedestrian point-of-view,
And watch as heaven and earth combine,
Fresh and completely new.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Copacetic ...

Today’s word is “copacetic” ... fine; completely satisfactory; OK. (Dictionary.com)

Sigh
Sit cross-legged here,
All is copacetic now.
Breathe in and breathe out.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Gusto ... Tasty

Today’s word is “gusto” ... hearty or keen enjoyment, as in eating or drinking, or in action or speech in general: to dance with gusto. (Dictionary.com)

Tasty
Do you eat with gusto,
Your breakfast everyday?
Oatmeal and some orange juice,
Like the charts all say?

Do you have a piece of toast,
With butter and some jelly?
Do you know that soon,
It will settle on your belly?

All those sweets will get you,
That’s what my mother said,
But I do love buttered bread,
Maybe I’ll stay in bed.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Usageaster ... Proper

Today’s word is “usageaster” ... a self-styled authority on language usage. (Dictionary.com)

Proper
A usageaster!
Please help us speak correctly!
We never learned how.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Avocation ... Yipee!

Today’s word is “avocation” ... something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby: Our doctor's avocation is painting. (Dictionary.com)

Yippee!
What would you do for love?
What choice of avocation?
Something in art or music,
That you’d do without cessation?

Maybe you would juggle,
Or train dogs to dance,
Perhaps you’d learn the game of chess,
Or master games of chance.

Could you pull rabbits out of hats,
Or learn strange tongues to speak?
However you would spend your time,
Joy is what you’d reap.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Controvert ... Fight

Today’s word is “controvert” .... to argue about; debate; discuss. (Dictionary.com)

Fight
So many things to controvert,
But who has the time,
To cover every subject?
But some would be inclined.

The arguments do rage,
Online and in ink,
In person not so much,
You never know who’ll blink.

Perhaps someday civility,
Will come back in style,
Til then, ‘til we all agree,
We might try at least to smile.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Rhapsodic ... Marble

Today’s word is “rhapsodic” ... extravagantly enthusiastic; ecstatic. (Dictionary.com)

Marble
To see earth from space,
Would make the jaded gasp in
Rhapsodic delight.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Oppidan ... Primal

Today’s word is “oppidan” ... of a town; urban. (Dictionary.com)

Primal
The country’s not for everyone,
With fresh clean air and trees,
Some people are oppidan,
And you can’t please these.

They prefer their coffee shops,
To be right down the street,
And taxis to be close at hand,
To ride ... not use their feet.

The weight of earth and feel of rain,
Are not what give them pleasure,
But for those who live outside,
All these are a treasure.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Simony ...

Today’s word is “simony” ... the making of profit out of sacred things. (Dictionary.com)

Exchange
Of all the things we cannot buy,
Delight of soul is surely one,
It would be simony as well.
And by few would it be done.

Blessed peace is not for sale,
Nor love, nor life’s duration,
God’s love is given full and free,
The greatest revelation.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Spruik ... Yawn

Today’s word is “spruik” ... to make or give a speech, especially extensively or elaborately; spiel; orate. (Dictionary.com)

Yawn
She wishes to spruik
But there’s no one to listen.
So she mumbles low.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Ipso facto ... What?

Today’s word is “Ipso facto” ... by the fact itself; by the very nature of the deed: to be condemned ipso facto. (dictionary.com)

What?
The truth was not told,
He ipso facto spoke out,
No one believed him.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Gallimaufry ... imagine

Today’s word is “gallimaurfry” ... a hodgepodge; jumble; confused medley. (Dictionary.com) 

Imagine
Children in the living room,
Games scattered on the floor,
Blankets and stuffed animals,
Gallimaufry, door to door.

But order came of chaos,
A lake formed in the hall,
Made of blankets stretched out,
Wall to wall to wall.

And banked along one doorway,
Was the beaver dam.
Along it’s ledges, creatures sat,
Anything that swam or ran.

Nature appeared inside the house,
Replicated and enhanced,
Nearby the children happily,
Played on, in song and dance.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Devoir ... Powerless

Today’s word is “devoir” ... something for which a person is responsible; duty. (Dictionary.com)

Powerless
If you lose your faith,
How will you do your devoir?
How will you survive?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Cucullate ... Cozy

Today’s word is “cucullate” ... resembling a cowl or hood. (Dictionary.com)

Cozy
Safe within his nest,
Leaves warm; a cucullate cap.
High above he dreams.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Strepitous ... Chewy

Today’s word is “strepitous” ... boisterous; noisy. (Dictionary.com)

Chewy
Normally strepitous,
He was busy with his treat,
Dismantling a pretty gourd,
The pieces at his feet.

He started with the pumpkin,
Sitting on the stairs,
It barely lasted Halloween,
It is no longer there.

Between him and the snow,
Fall decorations are no more,
Time to light the Christmas tree,
And get the wreath for the front door.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Salutary ... Early

Today’s word is “salutary” ... promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome. (Dictionary.com)

Early
Snow is on the ground,
I’m sure there is a reason,
But what salutary thing,
Could there be for this cold season?

The squirrels are running madly,
To find a nut or two,
Birds are on the feeders,
Hoping for something new.

Children in down are swaddled,
Adults are wearing mittens,
Not many living creatures,
Seem with this false winter smitten.

So this stuff mysterious,
Water frozen into snow,
Must advance the earth’s production,
But how? I suppose God knows!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Picayune ... Smallish

Today’s word is “picayune” ... of little value or account; small; trifling. (Dictionary.com)

Smallish
Such picayune things,
Yet, late in years,
Their memories linger,
Full of hopes and fears,

Little words spoken,
Actions of all kinds,
Make us who we are,
They are not left behind.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Turophobia ... Nibble

Today’s word is “turophobia” ... an irrational or disproportionate fear of cheese. (Dictionary.com)

Nibble
Cheese is everywhere.
Turophobia is real!
There’s more for the rest!!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Thither ... See

Today’s word is “thither” ... to or toward that place or point; there: on the farther or other side or in the direction away from the person speaking; farther; more remote.

See
When we all do thither go,
To that place mysterious,
Will the answers that we question,
Make us much less curious?

And there, will joy overcome
Finally every woe and fear,
As by love we are surrounded,
And God, to our very eyes draws near?

Will we remember sins and follies,
Pleasures, pain and holy deeds,
Or will we find in his embrace,
Everything we know we need?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Sprachefühl ... Listen

Today’s word is “sprachgefühl” a sensitivity to language, especially for what is grammatically or idiomatically acceptable in a given language. 

Listen

So many stories,

But they need sprachgefühl,

Which should we believe?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Obumbrate ... Stormy

Today’s word is “obumbrate” ... to darken, overshadow, or cloud. (Dictionary.com)

Stormy

Though evil may obumbrate,

Spread its wings and fly,

Try to ruin everything

Till it’s too late to wonder why,

Goodness may yet prosper,

If we trust our hearts,

Finding joy in every moment,

Now’s the time to start.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019

Squee ... Gone

Today’s word is “squee” ... to squeal with joy, excitement. (Dictionary.com)

Gone
It’s the end of Halloween,
I’d like to squee and sing,
No more silly costumes,
No more bells that ring.

No giant bags of candy,
Purchased at the store,
No eating of the extras,
Because there are no more.

No more happy pumpkin lights,
Costumes off fifty percent,
Soon we will be wondering,
Where Thanksgiving went.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Lilliputian ... Ropes

Today’s word is “Lilliputian” ... extremely small; tiny. (Dictionary.com)

Ropes

Large people; small land.

Watch out for Lilliputians!

They will tie you down!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2019