Bolide ... Promise

Today’s word is “bolide” ... a large, brilliant meteor, especially one that explodes; fireball. (Dictionary.com)

Promise

Bright as a bolide,

Fireworks of freedom rise.

Out of many, one.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Anchorite ...

Today’s word is “anchorite” ...  a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion; hermit. (Dictionary.com)

Cell

Hiding in our houses,

Solitude creeps near,

We’re unwilling anchorites,

This is a new frontier.

We’re good at diversions,

The internet and phones,

Not so much ourselves,

When we’re all alone.

But how else to think clearly,

Than when silence reigns?

Come and hear the still small voice,

Within your new domain.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Megafauna ... Leftovers

Today’s word is “megafauna” ... large or giant animals, especially of a given area. (Dictionary.com)

Leftovers

Bones and giant footprints,

Discovered underground,

Eggs petrified in situ,

Surprised when they were found.

All the megafauna,

Now is most extinct,

On earth for millennia,

Then gone in a wink.

But they say it’s true, so true,

Giants wandered here,

What else must have happened,

Isn’t really clear.

We all believe the things we choose,

With or with no evidence,

Those who cannot make a choice,

Left on a painful fence.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Bight ... Lap

Today’s word is “bight” ... a bend or curve in the shore of a sea or river. Dictionary.com)

Lap

Best of memories,

     an early, quiet morning,

The bight runs

     along the big lake forever it seems.

The sand is just beginning to warm.

     cool on the edge of the water.

Little ripples burble as they come

     and go, licking th shallows.

Footprints on the edge fill with

     water and disappear ...

           no trace of passing.

You can walk for miles and

      no person will be seen, only gulls,

           and grass and dunes.

And sky, of course, the beautiful

     blue sky.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Lugubrious ... Heavy

Today’s word is “lugubrious” ... mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner. (Dictionary.com)

Heavy

What is this fascination,

     with all that’s gloom and doom?

Why’s every injury and slight,

     perceived and given room?

Why do we look for hurt,

     in every glance and act,

Why do we feel unworthy,

     no matter how we act?

This leaves us lugubrious,

     as Eyore-like we strive,

To decipher our surrounding,

     and find a way to thrive.

If only we could believe the news,

     That all are precious here,

That God is in his heaven,

      and love will conquer fear.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Mondegreen ... Modern

Today’s word is “Mondegreen” ... a word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of another word or phrase, especially in a song or poem. (Dictionary.com)

Modern

We speak in circles.

Mondegreen conversations.

No one is laughing.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Withershins ... Unity

Today’s word is “withershins” ... in a direction contrary to the natural one, especially contrary to the apparent course of the sun or counterclockwise: considered as unlucky or causing disaster. (Dictionary.com)

Unity

They were all together,

Going through their days,

Then someone noticed suddenly,

Each was different in some way.

One was a different color,

One had longer hair,

One spoke a broken language,

One thought his place unfair.

They stared at one another,

And saw that it was true,

They we all unequal,

What then could they do?

They began to wander withershins,

Confused by all their thinking,

They began to get suspicious,

Watching each other without blinking.

This made them sad and tearful,

And so they broke part,

And walked lonely into darkness,

With unrepentant, broken hearts.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Ad hominem ... Push

Today’s word is “ad hominem” ...  attacking an opponent's character or motives rather than answering the argument or claim. (Dictionary.com)

Push
Oh ad hominem ...
You have failed to convince us.
Weaknesses’ refuge.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Lassitude ... Sleep

Today’s word is “lassitude” ... weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; lack of energy; listlessness. Dictionary.com)

Sleep
It sets in, this lassitude,
     When we’ve had too much,
Too much information, too much violence,
     Too much change.
The weariness is the aftermath of fear,
     The beginning of hopelessness.
The turnings of the world are enormous.
     What can one hand do. One mind or heart?
Even with faith, we’re frail. But only with faith
     Can evil be overcome.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Agnate ...

Today’s word is “agnate” ... related or akin through males or on the father's side. (Dictionary.com)


From our agnate ancestry,
Come the fathers that we love
Or loathe or find have left us,
Or fit us hand in glove.

They are important no matter how,
Their characters have our psyches formed,
Though we may willfully deviate,
From what appears to be theIr norm.

We may choose what seems the best,
Of their habits, traits and skills,
And celebrate them with happiness,
And save a place for them to fill.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Tête-à-tête ... Listen

Today’s word is “tête-a-tête” ... a private conversation or interview, usually between two people. (Dictionary.com)

Listen
To converse in peace,
A tête-a-tête suffices.
Like minds entangled.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Inflection point ... Redemption

Today’s “word” is “inflection point” ...  a point at which a major or decisive change takes place; critical point.

Redemption
Inflection points are numerous,
And depend on point-of-view,
The rise and fall of nations,
Are really nothing new.

The collapse of golden idols,
Happens all the time,
The accomplishments of kings,
Are routinely sung in rhyme.

Building walls and fences,
Is nothing new or great,
Reversing who’s on top,
Only makes us hate.

True awakenings are personal,
When hearts by love are turned,
And trophied, righteous judgements,
Are recognized and spurned.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Risibility ... Fractured

Today’s word is “risibility” ... the ability or disposition to laugh; humorous awareness of the ridiculous and absurd. (Dictionary.com)

Fractured
World events have come to be,
Risible. Absurd.
New thinking and strange language,
Never before heard.

Coherence with reality,
Is not necessity,
Only actions laced with feelings,
Imaged imaginatively.

Erase the evil past they say,
We must begin again,
We can attain perfection,
Become free from sin.

Doubtful this will work,
Until each of us can see,
Every one unique,
Encouraged thus to be.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

antepenultimate ... Ordered

Today’s word is “antepenultimate“ ... third from the end. (Dictionary.com)

Ordered
What is it like, being “x”
The antepenultimate letter?
Do you think if it was first,
It’s self esteem would be better?

Ruined would be the alphabet song,
You could not “sing along with me,”
If x was in the ending,
And it did not end with z.

X can be rather useful,
When it’s on a line,
Marking an identity,
A universal sign.

X can also mark a spot,
For treasure on a map,
It’s great for playing tic-tac-toe,
And makes algebra a snap.

So, even though it’s near the end,
Unassuming, in position,
It is useful beyond measure,
Beyond it’s small ambition.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Augean ... Us

Today’s word is “Augean” ... difficult and unpleasant. (Dictionary.com)

Us
What an Augean task,
Designing perfect society.
What would it look like to us?
What the possibilities?

Would someone be in charge?
Would there be many rules?
Would we all obey them?
Would we all be schooled?

How would it be different,
Than our current state?
We better figure it out,
Before it is too late.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Dilly ... Grapple

Today’s word is “dilly” ... something or someone regarded as remarkable, unusual. (Dictionary.com)

Grapple
Twenty twenty’s here.
it’s a dilly of a year!
Hold on to your hat!

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Samaritan ... Stop

Today’s word is “Samaritan” ... one who is compassionate and helpful to a person in distress. (Dictionary.com)

Stop
Sick. On the roadside.
He’s helped by his enemy.
The Samaritan.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Stridulate ... Greetings

Today’s word is “stridulate; strij-uh-leyt” ... to produce a shrill, grating sound, as a cricket does, by rubbing together certain parts of the body. 
(Dictionary.com)

Greetings
The birds are awake and singing,
Waking us up from trees,
Crickets chirp from bushes,
Stridulating, if you please.

They say get up and at ‘em!
You’ve only got today,
Go and get your breakfast,
Then there’ll be time to play.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Panivorous ... Crumb

Today’s word is “panivorous” ... subsisting on bread; bread-eating. (Dictiinary.com)

Crumb
This I do well understand,
That I am panivorous,
This is new but it is true,
Though I am also carnivorous.

Bread for breakfast toasted,
For lunch with soup and cheese,
In the evening croutons,
So many ways to please!

Sometimes it has raisins,
And sweetened cinnamon,
Or herbs or nuts or butter,
Sometimes it’s hot-crossed buns!

In the church communion,
It recalls our risen Lord,
And brings us all together,
To worship in accord.

Whether secular or holy,
It’s purpose is Devine,
Serving us dramatically,
As food and health and sign.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Klatch ... Careful

Today’s word is “klatch” ... a casual gathering of people, especially for refreshments and informal conversation. (Dictionary.com)

Careful
Remembering the good ‘ole days,
Not so long ago,
Invited to a coffee klatch,
You’d not be afraid to go.

A movie or a restaurant,
Would not cause angst or fear,
You’d never be reluctant,
To hug the one’s you hold most dear.

You could breathe without a fuss,
And travel where you would,
Unencumbered by the whys,
Or can’ts or musts or shoulds.

Now we are most cautious,
Though the threat’s not seen,
And gaze distractedly outside,
Where we’d prefer to be.

Perhaps in a year or two from now,
We will not feel this weight,
We’ll go happily about,
And chalk this off to fate.

Anne Sellleck
Copyright 2020

Skulduggery ... Crossed

Today’s word is “skulduggery” ... dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery. (Dictionary.com)

Crossed
There must be something evil,
A scheme or crazy plan,
Some sort of mad skulduggery,
Thwarting the plans of man.

A certain sort of trickery,
Seems to stop our very will,
Just as we’re close to acting,
Our efforts seem uphill.

Some would even put the blame,
For each unwanted thing,
Upon the God who made them,
As if love could sting.

But grace on grace is falling,
On those who are his own,
As they fight the darkness,
On their way back home.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020