Mizzle ... Damp

Yesterday’s (!!) word was “mizzle” ... to rain in fine drops; mist.
This is a make-up poem.

Damp
Winter’s warm wind blows,
Full of mizzle, but not snow.
Michigan surprise!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Sagacious ... Partner

Today’s word is “sagacious” ... having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd.

Partner
Would it not be wonderful,
To have a friend sagacious?
Who could help make up your mind,
With ideas bold, audacious?

It would take the pressure off,
And create communion,
As you both thought problems through,
To reach common conclusions.

Finding one so wise might be,
Difficult in the extreme,
But worth the cost and effort,
Your ideas to redeem.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Definidiem ...

Today’s word is “definiendum” ... something that is or is to be defined, especially the term at the head of a dictionary entry. (Dictionary.com)

Tome
Words are surrounding;
So many definienda.
How many answers?

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Canting ... Chatter

Today’s word is “canting” ... affectedly or hypocritically pious or righteous. (Dictionary.com)

Chatter You could hear him calling,
Canting from his branch,
Throwing noisy lectures,
To those who passed by chance.

No one had abused him,
Or chased him ‘round his tree,
But he was full of snarkiness,
Though completely free.

Sometimes the very young,
Scream abuse and scorn,
Not realizing their good fortune,
When they wake up each morn.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Fettle ... Soon!

Today’s word is “fettle” ... state; condition: in fine fettle. (Dictionary.com)

Soon!
I’m in fine fettle,
Thinking that spring is coming.
Sun! At 6:00 p.m.!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Egot ... Shine

Today’s word is “egot” ... the honor of winning at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony in competitive rather than honorary categories. (Dictionary.

Shine
Great and precious statues,
Gleam like treasure found,
A Wimbledon or Heisman,
Have a pleasing sound.

An egot strokes the ego,
They will by all be praised,
And be remembered years on years,
Because of talents raised.

In this life, not all of us.
Will have a trophy to our name,
But there are quiet acts of love,
That will bring praise, the same.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Murine ... Squeak

Today’s word is “murine” ... belonging or pertaining to the rodent subfamily Murinae, which includes more than 500 species of mice and rats. (Dictionary.com)

Squeak
We heard a little sound,
Perhaps murine in kind,
A little bit unsettling,
With that squeaking on our minds.

We know she’s happy in there,
Making a small nest,
But they tell us it’s not great,
That she’s a nasty pest.

In story books they’re always cute,
Sometimes even talking,
They wear fine clothes and shoes,
And on two feet they’re walking.

I think we’ll pause a while,
The noise may still abate,
Maybe we can avoid the trap,
Maybe we can wait.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Hobnob ... Sink

Today’s word is “hobnob” ... to associate on very friendly terms. (Dictionary.com)

Sink
There’s danger involved
When hobnobbing with villains.
They smile happily.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Autodidact ... More

Today’s word is “autodidact” ... a person who has learned a subject without the benefit of a teacher or formal education; a self-taught person. (Dictionary.com)

More
The desire to know so strong,
No teacher can fulfill
The curiosity of one,
Living on discovery’s hill.

The book is always open,
The pen on paper leans,
As the autodidact,
Another factoid gleans.

Why this keen desire?
Why the need to know?
It is not for fame,
Or to shine for show.

Something deeper stirs,
Urging this student on,
The pure joy of learning,
Becomes his siren song.

From this boundless bliss,
Comes the creative spark,
Prodigious art and work,
From the smitten heart.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Caprice ... Circuit

Today’s word is “caprice” ... a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one's mind or the weather. (Dictionary.com)

Circuit
Willy nilly through the day,
Capriciously he goes,
Turning to the left, then right
Sometimes he stops to doze.

At this rate, without a plan,
Circles are his fate,
Unless he chooses soon and well,
It will be too late.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Quorum ... Calm

Today’s word is “quorum” ... the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority. (Dictionary.com)

Calm
Do we really need a quorum,
To determine what is right?
Are we so very far apart,
That this choice requires a fight?

If the voice within is slight,
Or barely heard at all,
Perhaps we need to listen more,
To its whisper, when it calls.

There must be a center,
Where we can finally gather ‘round,
And sit in peace together,
On common holy ground.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Beacon ... Blink

Today’s word is “beacon” ... a person or thing that illuminates or inspires. (Dictionary.com)

Blink
Sometimes in darkness
A beacon is hard to find.
Or it is ignored.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Langlauf ... Free

Today’s word is “langlauf” ... cross country skiing.

Free
Clear, crisp langlauf trails
Beckon for exploration.
Peaceful joy awaits.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Synonymous ... Done

Today’s word is “synonymous” ... equivalent in meaning; expressing or implying the same idea. (Dictionary.com)

Done
Packing up the decorations,
Christmas now inside a box,
It seems that all the joy within,
Is until the next year, locked.

As if the Christ child has been hushed,
He, unable to bring peace,
Or comfort or a hopeful future,
Boxed, for now, his powers cease.

Yet we know he’s not contained,
Within any man-made walls,
Only in human hearts he hides,
Synonymous he, with love still calls.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Riposte .... Quick!

Today’s word is “riposte” ...  a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke. (Dictionary.com)

Quick!
Some of us are quick,
A repost ready. Always.
Others in a fog.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Flinty ... Soft

Today’s word is “flinty” ... unyielding; unmerciful; obdurate. (Dictionary.com)

Soft
We can be most flinty,
When we want our way,
The voice says we should go,
But we want to stay.

A feeling warns of consequence,
And we know it’s true,
Somehow deep within us,
But how, we have no clue.

Where does this knowledge come from?
Beyond us and within?
We are most mysterious,
Living in this space that’s thin.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Trangam ... Toys

Today’s word is “trangam” ... an odd gadget; gewgaw; trinket.  (Dictionary.com)

Toys
Every trangam known,
My cat ignores willfully.
He’ll choose his playthings.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Mythomane ... Phantoms

Today’s word is “mythomane” ... person with a strong or irresistible propensity for fantasizing, lying, or exaggerating. (Dictionary.com)

Phantoms
Contemplating by the fire,
Could turn one into a mythomane,
Devising stories by the hour,
No endings would ever be the same.

Winged creatures come and go,
Their scaly tails and breath like fire,
Magic spells weave dreams of gold,
To raise poor serfs above the mire.

Heroes and scoundrels both abide,
In these fierce, bright stories bold,
But as the flames to embers die,
They fade, like glory, hard to hold.

Yet we hope for something more,
An ending to our lives of grief,
A beauty stark and unexpected,
That will confirm our long belief.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Nival ... Flakes

Today’s word is “nival” ... of or growing in snow. (Dictionary.com)

Flakes
Some relationships ...
Like the nival, cold and bleak,
Would dance in the sun.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Euchred ... Think

Today’s word is “euchred” ...  utterly done in or at the end of one's tether; exhausted. (Dictionary.com)

Think
So many opinions float through the air,
To hear them all out would only be fair,
So listen on YouTube and Facebook and such,
Instagram, Twitter, it won’t be too much.

And then there’s bluetooth, radio and t.v.
Newspapers, magazines. Why can’t you see?
Blogs, podcasts, webpages, and oh yes, there’re books!
Don’t give me those “You must be old!” sort of looks.

All of your moments could be spent in the search,
But you’ll soon become euchred as onward you lurch,
Maybe your own thoughts should be sharpened and sieved,
Before gleaning from others the best way to live.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Pacific ... Flat

Today’s word is “pacific” ... tending to make or preserve peace; conciliatory: pacific overtures. (Dictionary.com)

Flat
If we could only be pacific,
All our wishes would come true,
We would go about so quietly,
Our feelings would be good and new.

We could easily meet our neighbors,
Though we were different from each other,
Knowing no harm to us could come,
Each one a sister or a brother.

Nation would speak soft to nation,
Swords to plow shares would have bent,
Every discussion calmly pondered,
Leaving, each would be content.

Would this fantasy come true,
Truth on a pinnacle would stand,
Viewed equally from all directions,
Each continent a holy land.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Sidesplitter ... Splash

Today’s word is “sidesplitter” ... something that is uproariously funny, as a joke or a situation. (Dictionary.com)

Splash
They were watching videos,
Fishermen who were hooked,
Falling in the water,
Nothing taught about in books.

They laughed because they recognized
Themselves in all those acts,
Sidesplitting recognition,
Based on funny facts.

Always fishing will go on,
Stories told for years,
To be remembered later,
With laughter and with cheers.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Beaucoup ...

Today’s word is “beaucoup” ... many; numerous; much. (Dictionary.com)

Break
The wind is howling, again.
The dunes are being eaten ...
Grain by grain the winter beach,
Shuttles toward the other side of the lake.

Houses are teetering dangerously,
Daring gravity to take them as well.
The stairways have already
Lost their grip. Broken to pieces.

Beaucoup years ago we walked,
A quarter mile over rocks.
Just to touch the water’s edge.
And wade until sunset.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Imponderability ... Consumed

Today’s word is “imponderability” ... imponderables; things that cannot be precisely determined, measured, or evaluated: the imponderabilia surrounding human life. (Dictionary.com)

Consumed
The whys and wherefores,
Imponderabilities,
I can’t stop asking.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Oneiric ... Wait

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

Wait
Our oneiric thoughts of peace,
Seem fragile in the light,
As we observe humanity,
Involved in flight and fight.

Bullies continue to abuse,
The abused just slink away,
Hoping for a different sight,
When they awake in a new day.

Until we can make our peace,
Within our own dark hearts,
We will not see our earth rejoice,
Or know we’ve done our part.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Rax ... Catness

Today’s word is “rax” ... to stretch oneself, as after sleeping. (Dictionary.com)

Catness
He lies on his perch,
Raxes and yawns, his eyes wide.
Guarding his kingdom.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Welp ... Steps

Today’s word is “welp” ... an informal variant of well used to indicate disappointment, resignation, or acceptance at the beginning of an utterance. (Dictionary.com)

Steps
Welp, we have begun,
Each new day an enigma.
Minute by minute.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Hibernaculum ... Toasty

Today’s word is “hibernaculum” ... winter quarters, as of a hibernating animal. (Dictionary.com)

Toasty
In our hibernaculum
There’s all that one would need,
Enough warmth and food and shelter
To last ‘til the cold recedes.

There are even books to read 
And games to pass the time,
As we gaze out wind-swept windows,
At snowy evergreens sublime.

We have each other too, of course,
To laugh with and converse,
Or to just sit quietly,
Centered in our universe.

In this cozy place,
On this frigid winter day,
We are grateful souls,
Happy here at home to stay.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Splore ... Bring

Today’s word is “splore” ... a frolic; revel; carousal. (Dictionary.com)

Bring
New year splores are past,
The peace of routine settles.
And we continue.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Twenty-Twenty ... See

Today’s word is “twenty-twenty” ... keenly or acutely perceptive: an opinion based on twenty-twenty hindsight. (Dictionary.com)

See
Oh how wondrous it would be,
If twenty-twenty was our sight?
Every act would be expected ...
No surprises noon or night.

Yet, how happy would we be,
Knowing every permutation?
Where’s serendipity in that,
Answering all of life’s equations?

Perhaps a little mystery,
Keeps us more than half awake,
Ready for each moment’s treasure,
As we see, and taste and take.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020