Finito ... Done

Today’s word is “finito” ... finished; ended. (Dictionary.com)

Done
This year’s finito!
But when you blink it’s all new!
Start again. Again.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Retrospection ... Tick

Today’s word is “retrospection” ... the action, process, or faculty of looking back on things past. (Dictionary.com)

Tick
There is much to be learned they say,
From retrospection of the past,
Choices made for good or ill,
Leave traces that will last.

We can ponder future acts,
And weigh them in our minds,
Change them at our every whim,
And with them our form align.

But the past is frozen,
The future but a dream,
The only time we have is now,
To change things, it would seem.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Gawsy ... Pause

Today’s word is “gawsy” ... of people) well-dressed and of cheerful appearance. (Dictionary.com)

Pause
Inbetween this Christmas and
Next year’s beginning bell,
Two gawsy, happy holidays,
All saddness is dispelled.

Soon enough we will return,
To troubles small and great,
We’ll fight to keep our heads up,
And go down pathways straight.

This respite has been merry,
With peace and love to share,
Perhaps we’ll make it last a while,
If we can dream to dare.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Réchauffé ... Mmmm

Today’s word is “réchauffé” ... a warmed-up dish of food. (Dictionary.com)

Mmmmm
The best part of the feasting,
Is réchauffé galore!
After having rested,
There’s always room for more.

A dab of mashed potatoes,
A tiny slice of pie,
Some relish of cranberry,
In the fridge I spy.

After having seconds,
Eaten with great mirth,
I will ignore the scale,
And the increase in my girth!

A whole new year awaits,
That’s when I’ll show restraint,
I’m sure by then that I will have,
The traits of a great saint!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Shilly-shally ... Hang

Today’s word is shilly-shally ... to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate. (Dictionary.com)

Hang
Purposefully walking,
No shilly-shallying,
Straight towards the fateful branch,
Where she will hang, still.

Slowly spinning round,
Encasing her very self,
Not knowing the story’s end,
Yet doing what she must.

Inside, a miracle,
Unseen and undescribed,
Shifting from form to form,
From the dust to the sky.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Ephemeral ... Given

Today’s word is “ephemeral” ... lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood. (Dictionary.com)

Given
Ephemeral breath,
Ephemeral life we have,
Wild gift of wonder.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Big-hearted ... Abide

Today’s word is “big-hearted” ... generous; kind. (Dictionary.com)

Abide
How do they get this way ...
The big-hearted, the lovely, the kind?
What special quality rises,
To create that state of mind?

Or is it a state of heart,
That expresses unearned love?
And where does that come from,
If not from above?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Atiptoe ... Listen

Today’s word is “atiptoe” ... eagerly expectant, as anticipating a desired event or arrival: waiting atiptoe for the mail. 

Listen
We are atiptoe on this night,
Waiting for the new-born son.
Who has come and will again,
Until his children all are won.

So each day when we arise,
We wait with baited breath to hear,
The voice and step of he who saves,
The words of our own Lord most dear.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Gemütlich ... Still

Today’s word is “gemütlich” ... comfortable and pleasant; cozy. 

Still Settled by the fire,
Wishing for quiet snowfall,
All is gemütlich, fine,
Listening to the night call.

Thinking of friends most dear,
And family together,
Those are a different warmth,
Independent of the weather.

Contemplating love,
Come to us on earth,
A warm unending bliss,
Revealed in holy birth.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Kvell ... Success

Today’s word is “kvell” ... to be extraordinarily pleased; especially, to be bursting with pride. (Dictionary.com)

Success
He began to brag,
To kvell at his fortune,
Counting his dollars.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Halcyon ... Solstice

Today’s word is “halcyon” ... calm; peaceful; tranquil

Solstice
Truly halcyon days have come,
Though Christmas waits for all,
The balmy air lays calm and clear,
And snow does not blow or fall.

For those who travel near or far,
The roads are clear ahead,
And everyone at journey’s end,
Should rest safely in their beds.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Effervescent ... Become

Today’s word is “effervescent” ... vivacious; merry; lively; sparkling. (Dictionary.com)

Become
Effervescent is this season,
Full of joy and gladness,
For on Christmas Day was born,
The one who did slay sadness.

We thought our lives were meaningless,
That sorrow was our treasure,
Until he came to prove to us,
His love beyond all measure.

Thus we live in this dark world,
With heaven in our eyes,
Guilty, yet we are forgiven,
Christ is our final prize.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Flâneur ... Busy

Today’s word is “flâneur” ... idler; dawdler; loafer. (Dictionary.com)

Busy
There’s so much to do ...
Flâneurs on the couch, beware!
Time is running out.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Deipnosophist ... Follow

Today’s word is “deipnosophist” ... a person who is an adept conversationalist at a meal. (Dictionary.com)

Follow
The deipnosophist
Dances fast and weaves a spell.
Pied piper of words.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Tintinabulation ... Listen

Today’s word is “tintinabulation” ... the ringing or sound of bells. (Dictionary.com)

Listen
Soon we will be hearing,
The tintinabulation,
The ringing of the bells,
The bells of Christmas.

As long as bells are ringing,
And songs are being sung,
The people joyful singing,
We will with hope be filled.

Christmas comes but once a year,
And came only once in time,
But only once was needed,
For in time he came.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Welter ... Christmas

Today’s word is “welter” ... a confused mass; a jumble or muddle (Dictionary.com)

Christmas
The lights entangle.
A welter of bright color ...
A celebration.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Peripeteia ... Break

Today’s word is “peripeteia” ... a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, especially in a literary work. (Dictionary.com)

Break
The garden was lovely,
Trees and streams and all,
The crystal water shinning,
But this, before the fall.

Then the gate was shut,
And we were left outside,
Alone to fight the earth,
And from ourselves to hide.

Eons came and went,
Still we chose the dark,
But hope in something deep,
Kept us straining toward the mark.

Then a peripeteia,
A baby in a stall,
Came to shine God’s light,
And redeem us, one and all.

Still he waits most quietly,
In sorrow and in joy,
For us to make our own turns,
And his grace employ.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Esculent ... Treats

Today’s word is “esculent” ... suitable for use as food; edible. (Dictionary.com)

Treats
All things esculent
Will shortly be appearing.
Sweet and savory.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Festal ... Maybe

Today’s word is “festal” ... pertaining to or befitting a feast, festival, holiday, or gala occasion. (Dictionary.com)

Maybe
This festal season makes me
     think of elves ...
those handy little creatures
     dressed in felt.

Wouldn’t it be exciting to
     know a couple personally ...
When you had to create a 
     family dinner for 25?

They certainly worked wonders
     for the shoemaker ...
Though I hear they are not
     always so friendly.

Having someone to sweep the floor
     or tie your shoes,
Or let the cat in and let it 
     out again, would be fantastic.

I wonder how they are at
     picking out the perfect present?
Would they sit, legs crossed,
     pointy toes tapping, as they 
          scrolled through myriads of web pages?

Would they spin wrapping paper,
     like Rumplestiltskin spun gold,
Creating ribboned fantasies
      that would make the relatives faint?

Would they work at night,
     leaving everyone breathless
In the morning as we awoke
     to mounds of French toast 
          and soft-boiled eggs?
     
I suppose, since I’ve never seen one,
     except at the mall in winter,
That all my chores will still be there tomorrow ...
     But Stranger things have happened,
          haven’t they?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Brobdingnagian ... Dig

Today’s word is “brobdingnagian” ... of huge size; gigantic; tremendous. (Dictionary.com)

Dig
There’s only one word
For all this crazy action ...
Brobdingnagian!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Forby ... Break

Today’s word is “forby” ... besides. (Dictionary.com)

Break
Dark is dark indeed,
See? The light is coming soon.
Forby, it is here!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Concinnate ... Needled

Today’s word is “concinnate” ... to arrange or blend together skillfully, as parts or elements; put together in a harmonious, precisely appropriate, or elegant manner. (Dictionary.com)

Needled Putting up the Christmas tree,
All elements must concinnate,
There can be no confusion,
Everything must integrate.

The lights should all be spaced,
Equally apart,
Mix even reds and greens,
Or don’t even start.

Don’t forget the angel,
She’ll beautify the top,
Every time we pass by,
We’ll have to stare and stop.

Such a fine green centerpiece,
To adorn the space,
All because a little child,
Came to show us all his grace.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Tinselry ... Joy

Today’s word is “tinselry” ... cheap and pretentious display. (Dictionary.com)

Joy
The season beckons,
Even the tinselry sings,
“The new is coming!”

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Ology ... University

Today’s word is “ology” ... any science or branch of knowledge. (Dictionary.com)

University
If I could live forever,
I would study all the ologies.
Beginning with the names of stars ...
One should know what is
     spinning above her head.

Then the strata of the earth,
Each differentiated by color, and texture,
And the lives hidden within, 
like secrets kept from the beginning.

The animals of course,
From anteaters to zebras would be
     observed and touched.
What better way to understand?

Perhaps then, humanity in all its
forms and colors and customs.
And bodies and how they do their
     miraculous work.

And when all that can be touched,
Or seen, or smelt or heard is known,
The invisible would be explored: motion,
numbers, music, quarks and forces. 
How clouds know when to form
and where to drop the rain.

And last of all, or maybe first,
The study of our purposes,
The reasons for our deepest happiness
And sorrow.

So many mysteries. (I hope heaven
     has museums.)
I wonder how, on this amazing planet,
     we can content ourselves 
          with trivialities?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Fastigiate ... Wait

Today’s word is “fastigiate” ... having branches that are erect and parallel, tapering to a pointed top. (Dictionary.com)

Wait ...
Someday, maybe soon, maybe late,
We will meet in joyful celebration,
Our hands raised high,
Like fastigiate trees ...
Dancing will be the only way
To express our feelings.

After all the complications of
This earth. After all the confusion
And uncertainty. After all the pain,
The loss and agony. Will be joy.
Joy!

Can you believe it? See it in your
Mind’s eye? Angels on a pin will
No longer be a topic of conversation.
Because we will walk with them
In light and peace. Advent is
Here. And the advent of the Christ is 
The advent of us all!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Bonhomie ...

Today’s word is “bonhomie” ... frank and simple good-heartedness; a good-natured manner; friendliness; geniality.  (Dictionary.com)

Vision
What if we could give,
A small touch of bonhomie.
A piece of our hearts?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Spoonerism ... Tangle

Today’s word is “spoonerism” ... the transposition of initial or other sounds of words, usually by accident, as in a blushing crow for a crushing blow. (Dictionary.com)

Tangle
Reading through the paper,
Everywhere you look,
Confusing as a spoonerism,
Is that flakey book.

No matter what it says,
With its tongue firmly in cheek,
Its tricky words sway people,
Every day of every week.

If truth was a bright light,
That shone upon the pages,
Maybe then we’d know,
What is only known to sages.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Snarf ...

Today’s word is “snarf” ... to eat quickly and voraciously; scarf (often followed by down or up). (Dictionary.com)

Eat
We’ve snarfed up the treats,
Now we are on new diets.
Around and around.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Benignity ... Open

Today’s word is “benignity” ... good deed or favor; an instance of kindness: benignities born of selfless devotion. (Dictionary.com)

Open
We are showered every day,
With benignities uncounted,
The grace of God so obvious,
It should not at all be doubted.

Yet we live ours days as blind,
Ignoring beauty calling,
Tripping on dark thoughts and deeds,
Thinking we are falling.

If we could see just past this world,
To the surrounding glory,
We would laugh and play and dance,
And tell a different story.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Existential ... Sense

Today’s word is “existential” ... of or relating to existence. (Dictionary.com)

Sense
Thinking about all the things,
All things existential,
Those are the ones, don’t you think,
That are the most essential?

Why we’re here; where we go,
What matters between ...
Thoughts of things invisible,
And what they really mean.

If on this earth there’s nothing more,
Than revolving ‘round in space,
There is no chance, no chance at all,
That we are saved by grace.

But if electricity and quarks,
Are real, though not seen or held,
Perhaps God’s love and providence,
Are just as real as well.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019

Vicissitudes ... Shield

Today’s word is “vicissitudes” ... successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs. (Dictionary.com)

Shield
Through every vicissitude,
They persisted and they thrived.
They lived their lives in truth and trust,
And many of them died.

Trouble made them stronger,
Persecution made them bold,
Throughout all the ages,
The amazing story has been told.

How do you stop this gospel,
Which grows with every pain?
It grows and blossoms always,
Like a flower after rain.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019