Obfuscate ... Smirk

Today’s word is “obfuscate” ... to make obscure or unclear. (Dictionary.com)

Smirk

He will obfuscate,

Truth buried under fables.

Hiding in plain sight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Evanescence ... Warm

Today’s word is “evanescence” ...  

Warm

In the evanescent light

This summer’s eve I realize,

July is nearly gone and so,

So many gentle summer skies.

To savor moments such as these,

Surely is a great, good pleasure,

And August soon will bring more joys,

Which we’ll have no way to measure.

But when the winter’s cold is set,

And we are huddled safe and warm,

We will dream of long lost days,

And for their sweetness we will mourn.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Whinge ... Trajectory

Today’s word is “whinge” ... to complain; whine. (Dictionary.com)

Trajectory

So many reasons to complain,

There is error everywhere,

They whinge away and protest,

To make sure that things are fair.

If I could wave a magic wand,

A perfect world I would create

And all the creatures in it,

Would be happy with their fate.

I would control their every move,

Direct each and every motive,

Peace and love would surely flow,

They would light for me a votive.

It looks as if some people now,

Dream of that perfect place,

Where their ideals and morals,

Will surely bring a state of grace.

They seem not to have noticed,

It was all tried in the past,

Ending in a million whimpers.

Faces amazed, aghast.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Verecund ... Loud

Today’s word is “verecund” ... bashful; modest. (Dictionary.com)

Loud

Can’t think of anyone who’s verecund,

All the famous are loquacious,

Boasting, bragging, oh so sure,

Hanging in important places.

I wonder, does that power,

Go straight to their heads?

Are they still the greatest,

When they’re lying in their beds?

Does the thought of a great headline,

Make them smile when morning breaks?

Is there a quiet space somewhere,

Or a time when their hearts ache?

The loudest will yet pass away,

The most powerful will fall,

Take heart all you of lowly birth,

When you hear their boisterous calls.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Scattergood ... Shiny

Today’s word is “scattergood” ... a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift. (Dictionary.com)

Shiny

If you won the lottery,

Would you be a scattergood,

Throwing money all around,

Just because you could?

Or would you save it all,

Hide it in a box,

Bury it behind the house,

So that others you’d outfox?

Or maybe you would balance,

Some for others, some for you,

Some to fix the car or house,

Or to pay a balance due.

It is fun to fantasize,

Whether fortune’s on its way,

Though if it is or isn’t,

With its idea you can play.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Anfractuous ... Travel

Today’s word is “anfractuous” ... characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous. (Dictionary.com)

Travel

It’s hard to follow.

Anfractuous arguments

Blinding the mind’s eye.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Coffers ... Moola

Today’s word is “coffers” ... funds, especially of a government or corporation. (Dictionary.com)

Moola

So much treasure, in so many coffers,

Think of what might have been done ...

But we build up our barns in spite of ourselves,

And spend our money on fast-fading fun.

We’re told not to love the green and the gold,

That it leads to all sorts of bad ends,

That our sense of direction will lead us astray,

And to our lesser emotions we’ll bend.

This seems to be true, with our record so far,

But good things too, have come to the fore,

If there’s a nature that’s better, to it we should plead,

Then perhaps we will choose to do more.

Anne Selleck 

Copyright 2020

Taciturn ... Talk

Today’s word is “taciturn” ... inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation. (Dictionary.com)

Talk

She used to be so jovial,

Spreading words like wedding flowers,

With all of her friends she would converse,

Not tempered or empowered.

But she spoke something amiss,

And her words spread ‘round about,

Though they started quietly,

They raced with a viral shout.

Soon those who disagreed with her,

Decided she should know,

They piled on with fervor,

So that her shame would grow.

They said they were the tolerant,

They said that change was good,

But now she’s sad and taciturn,

Quietly misunderstood.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Clamber ... Alone

Today’s word is “clamber” ... to climb, using both feet and hands; climb with effort or difficulty. (Dictionary.com)

Alone

We watched them clamber over hills,

Over boulders wet with rain,

Through deep vines and fallen trees,

As they fought exhausting pain.

They strained to prove survival skills,

Their toughness and their fortitude,

But they found their minds no match,

For unrelenting solitude.

What stopped them wasn’t simply hunger,

Beastly cries or constant cold,

But the lack of human comfort,

Which keeps us going; makes us bold.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Fungible ... You

Today’s word is “fungible” ... being of such nature or kind as to be freely exchangeable or replaceable, in whole or in part, for another of like nature or kind. (Dictionary.com)

You

What is fungible in this world?

Roots for leaves or bulbs for flowers?

Would you trade a year of life,

For a day of sacred hours?

Would you take ten days of rain,

If sun would shine for twenty two?

Or exchange your liberty,

For safety in each thing you do?

We know that each of us, unique,

Cannot be exchanged for another,

Designed we are as human souls,

To love. Strangers, friends, sisters, brothers.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Mirabilia ... Slip

Today's word is "mirabilia" ... marvels; miracles. (Dictionary.com)

Slip

When you least expect it,

Comes mirabilia to amaze,

We were watching for a dark cloud,

When the sun blinded our gaze.

Relief caused smiles and laughter,

Surprise has changed our day,

The grace that falls like rain,

Says sorrow is delayed.

Sometimes we forget,

There are views from mountains high,

Where we see beyond ourselves,

With a long and joyful sigh.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Singularity ...

Today’s word is “singularity” ... The initial singularity is a gravitational singularity predicted by general relativity to have existed before the Big Bang and thought to have contained all the energy and spacetime of the Universe.(Wikipedia)

Here’s a song I wrote a long time ago (words). Michael Boersma performed it and wrote the melody and Jenny Henry created the video. “Singularity” Seemed like a good time to share it!

https://youtu.be/25QHjYVA_Jc

Fain .... Shift

Today’s word is “fain” ... gladly; content; willingly. (Dictionary.com)

Shift

The beach is gone this year,

Because the lake reclaimed

All the sandy distance,

That once had a name.

The gradual decline,

To the water’s edge,

Has been carved straight down,

A severe, unwelcome ledge.

I’d fain go swimming there,

Or walk the sandy shore,

But a climb’s not what I want,

Just a stroll and nothing more.

In some future time,

The beach will reappear,

It’s just nature breathing,

Year to year to year.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Catalyst ... New

Today’s word is “catalyst” ... a person or thing that precipitates an event or change. (Dictionary.com)

New

Fire or flood or wind,

Short nights or long dry days,

Company or solitude,

Can cause us to change our ways.

Revolution or betrayal,

Loss of faith or gain of friend,

Contemplation of our beginning,

May cause our will to bend.

Whatever the catalyst,

Change comes with surprise,

Challenging preconceptions,

Challenging us to be wise.

Anne Selleck 

Copyright 2020

Adamantine ... Big

Today’s word is “adamantine” ... utterly unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion. (Dictionary.com)

Big

Did you peek into the universe?

Did you see the mass of stars?

Did you wonder at their brightness,

Did you know that they were so far?

Can you imagine that huge space?

How it swallows up the earth?

Our earth, a grain of sand,

Yet, of adamantine worth.

Here, on our revolving home,

Familiar with our circumstance,

Hung in perfection’s gaze,

We join the cosmic dance.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Rebus ... Read

Today’s word is “rebus” ... a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables: Two gates and a head is a rebus for Gateshead.  (Dictionary.com)

Read

Look at that new sign ...

It is some kind of rebus.

Puzzle of our time.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Sojourn ... Trip

Today’s word is “sojourn” ... to stay for a time in a place; live temporarily. (Dictionary.com)

Trip

We sojourn a while

The beautiful earth our home.

Learning gratitude.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Déjà Vu ... Dizzy

Today’s word is déjà vu ... the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time. (Dictionary.com)

Dizzy

I’ve been here before ...

Everyday is déjà vu.

Sun, moon, sun, moon, sun ...

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Bellicose ... Emboldened

Today’s word is “bellicose” ... inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious. (Dictionary.com)

Emboldened

Who are these raging rebels?

These bellicose believers?

Standing on the moral high ground,

They have a righteous fever.

They shout their feelings out,

Loud enough for all to hear,

Centered in their pain,

No comfort can come near.

A helping hand’s rejected,

No penance is sufficient,

The apologist is doomed,

His words are all deficient.

This is not debate,

With dialogue that’s reasoned,

What can reach these wretched hearts,

In this terrible new season?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Rhathymia ... Dance

Today’s word is “rhathymia” ... ruh-thahy-mee-uh: carefree behavior; light-heartedness. (Dictionary.com)

Dance

Have you smiled today?

Have you sung a happy song?

Did you say a prayer in faith,

That we might all get along?

A little rhathymia,

Might help your point-of-view,

Change sadness into joy,

Make your feelings new.

Each day holds some dreams,

Some hopes and some real fears,

That which you think about,

Is what will soon draw near.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Ductile ... Press

Today’s word is “ductile” ... capable of being molded or shaped; plastic. (Dictionary.com)

Press

People are ductile.

New ideas turn them ‘round.

They march in lockstep.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Slugabed ... Real

Today’s word is “slugabed” ... a person who lazily stays in bed long after the usual time for arising.

Real

Calling all you slugabeds,

From your hidy holes,

Get up now and do something,

Stop living like a mole!

Yes, we all have been locked down,

But there are things to do,

And you can be a part of it,

Blessings will accrue.

Finding strength in weakness,

Courage out of fear,

There is good aplenty,

Let your spirit hear.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Discomfiture ... Wha?

Today’s word is “discomfiture” ... the state of being disconcerted; confusion; embarrassment. (Dictionary.com)

Wha?

Who would not feel confused,

When words become reversed,

And that when you want to talk,

You feel you must rehearse?

When everyone’s offended,

By looks and tweets and signs,

Until you think that maybe,

From the human race you will resign.

The discomfiture’s predictable,

We’re fish tossed from the lake,

Some days the new traditions,

Are more than you can take.

You only can rely at last,

In truths proved through history,

Though even those are at the whim,

Of those who cannot see.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Kaput ... Begining

Today’s word is “kaput” ... ruined; done for; demolished. (Dictionary.com)

Beginning

When it’s all kaput,

Only God’s light will shine forth.

This is the promise.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Posterity ... Later

Today’s word is “posterity” ... succeeding or future generations collectively. (Dictiinary.com)

Later

What will they say then,

Our posterity, about us?

Will they understand?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Bailiwick ... Sparkle

Today’s word is “baliwick” ... a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work. (Dictionary.com)

Sparkle

Do you have a bailiwick,

A place where your comfort lies?

Can you sew a hem or mend a road,

Or teach someone to fly?

Can you sing a song or tell a story,

Raise a child or greet a queen?

Maybe you can love someone,

Make them feel like they are seen.

Take the thing you do so well,

And make it an offering,

If we all would do this,

The universe with joy would ring.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020