Gorp ... Eat

Today’s word is “gorp” .... a mixture of nuts, raisins, dried fruits, seeds, or the like eaten as a high-energy snack, as by hikers and climbers. (Dictionary.com)

Eat

So many snacks!

And not much to do.

Think I’ll just sit here,

And eat up a few.

Where should I start,

With donuts and cake?

With gorp and a milkshake?

Or is that a mistake?

A handful of chocolate?

Some marshmallow creme?

Graham crackers and frosting?

That sounds like a dream.

But of course there’s a cost,

It comes in ounces and pounds,

And I don’t want them for sure,

So I’ll just turn around.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Kindred ... Warm

Today’s word is “kindred” ... having the same belief, attitude, or feeling. (Dictionary.com)

Warm

More than family,

Kindred souls breach boundaries,

And dance together.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Metrophobia ... Write

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

Write

So many rhymes and tunes,

Rolling through our minds,

Gold records and thick books,

No shortage of words to find.

Hard to believe that some,

Fear the word and pen,

Their metrophobia,

Beyond their desire and ken.

But there are many who,

Find amusement and delight,

They read each and every stanza,

As their imagination takes its flight.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Schmaltz ... Expressions

Today’s word is “schmaltz” ... exaggerated sentimentalism, as in music or soap operas. (Dictionary.com)

Expressions
Little cards, all in a row,

Illustrations, colored flowers,

Poetry and sympathies,

For special, memoried hours.

Some are funny, schmaltzy, weird,

With silly animals that speak,

Some express your feelings,

In ways that make you weak.

To hold one in your hands,

Is to hold another’s heart,

Sent to you with love,

Of which we’re all a part.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Vituperate ... Autopsy

Today’s word is “vituperate” ... to use or address with harsh or abusive language; revile. (Dictionary.com)

Autopsy

Why is it necessary,

To use those hateful words?

To vituperate opinions,

You’d rather not have heard?

Why is it so difficult,

To take an idea out,

Lay it on the table,

And talk without a shout?

An idea has no feelings,

You’re free to analyze,

Poke at all its edges,

Decide if it is wise.

If we could just have some tea,

And wave that idea ‘round,

I bet that we could compromise,

And leave no tears upon the ground.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Ikigai ... Work

Today’s word is “ikigai” ...  one’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation: those who follow the concept of ikigai undertake the activities of their life with willingness and a satisfying sense of meaning. (Dictionary.com)

Work

In all shapes and sizes hero’s come,

All ages and all states,

Most have no intention,

Or inclination of their fate.

It seems that those who give the most,

Notice their gifts the least,

As day on day they ply their trade,

And to others love bequeath.

Ikigai lives in these souls,

When in humility,

They love with purpose and with strength,

Saying “no” to futility.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Aroint ... Gone

Today’s word is “aroint” ... begone. (Dictionary.com)

Gone

To this trouble I want to say,

“Stop! Aroint! Just go!“

All your antics are old news,

You’ve nothing new to show.

Though you cheat and barr your teeth,

Threatening with glee,

The Lord of Life has come to us,

We are already free.

In this state of grace we fight,

With weapons not man-made,

For a now come future,

Which will never fade.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Juberous ... Judgement

Today’s word is “juberous” ... uncertain and reluctant; dubious; undecided. (Dictionary.com)

Judgement
Facts are upside down.
We make juberous choices.

But steadfast faith wins.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Inanition ... Crawl

Today’s word is “inanition” ... lack of vigor; lethargy. (Dictionary.com)

Crawl

He moves so slowly through the trees,

From branch to branch he wanders,

His energy’s in short supply,

So he hangs, (and ponders?)

This inanition’s his defense,

Who can see him as he moves?

He has his own strange pathways,

His own leafy, pokey grooves.

He pursues his life this way,

In quiet and in peace,

He is slow; he is extreme,

A measured masterpiece.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Epizeuxis ... Stare

Today’s word is “epizeuxis” ... a literary or rhetorical device that appeals to or invokes the reader’s or listener’s emotions through the repetition of words in quick succession.  (Dictionary.com)

Stare

To be sure that you are listening,

To the noise, noise, noise,

We will repeat, repeat our headlines,

That’s our ploy, ploy ploy.

And if that epizeuxis,

Doesn’t catch your eye, eye, eye,

We will continue with more fervor,

‘Til you buy, buy buy!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Today’s word is “sobriquet” ... a nickname. (Dictionary.com)

Special

We gave him a sobriquet,

He came to us as Zeus,

We called him Mr. Mayhem,

Then thought that was obtuse.

So, now he’s Kitty Kitty,

And he doesn’t seem to care,

He comes only when he feels like it,

With his wide-eyed stare.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Comity ...

 Today’s word is comity ... mutual courtesy; civility. (Dictionary.com)

Broken

If only there were comity,

In the words and phrases,

That politician’s use each day ...

(Their language often dazes.)

The gulf could not be wider,

As back and forth they volley,

Not seeing that their attitudes,

Are filled with human folly.

If wishing made reality,

The poor with joy would cheer,

But we sit and pray and wait,

To chase away our fear.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Zhuzh ... Zippy

Today’s word is “zhuzh” ... to make (something) more lively and interesting, stylish, or appealing, as by a small change or addition (usually followed by up ): These colorful throw pillows are an easy way to zhuzh up your living room.  (Dictionary.com)

Zippy

You can zhuzh up life,

Or wait for revelation,

See what you’re missing.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Hortatory ... Lead

Today’s word is “hortatory” ... urging to some course of conduct or action; exhorting; encouraging: a hortatory speech. (Dictionary.com)

Lead

Should we follow those who lead,

With hortatory speech,

Encouraging mad actions,

Disaster surely will unleash?

Or should we follow a dear Prince,

Who’s peace is not of this world,

Who’s banner only few can see,

Though it flies completely unfurled.

He leads the humble and the poor,

Those who do not count their places high,

The kind, the generous and good,

He speaks in whispers and with sighs.

There is no worldly crown for these,

No bags of golden treasure,

Just never ending love and joy,

That goes on forever.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Limn ... Bounty

Bounty

How to limn today,

The sun, the breeze, the sky,

The coming of the fall,

At the blink of summer’s eye.

Creatures run about,

Careless in their ease,

Collecting summer’s fruits,

To cache in secret trees.

In winter, will we think,

How blest we were today,

When warmth caressed the earth,

And begged us, to in the present stay?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Vicarious ... Congregation

Today’s word is “vicarious” ... felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others. (Dictionary.com)

Congregation

Watching worship on YouTube,

Trying to be a vicarious part,

Hearing the messages music brings,

To lonely, desperate hearts.

The preacher speaks to empty chairs,

The band’s cloistered in a corner,

The people on line imagine each other,

As they were in days that were former.

But the Spirit is not limited,

He weaves around and through,

Working on those discouraged hearts,

Changing and making them new.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Jubilee ... Trapped

 Today’s word is “jubilee” ... the celebration of any of certain anniversaries. (Dictionary.com)

Trapped

We’ve been without our celebrations,

No jubilees or making merry,

No birthday parties or piñatas,

No cakes with frosting topped with cherries.

Stay inside! The plague’s about!

Don’t sing or pray or talk too loud,

Wear your mask when you go out,

And stay away from friends and crowds.

We’re not meant to live like this,

Without hugs and interaction,

We need each other every day,

To find our total satisfaction.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

De facto ... Genius

Today’s word is “de facto” ... in fact; in reality. (Dictionary.com)

Genius

Little dogs in coats and hats,

Cats up in man-made trees,

Birds who own the living room,

Because they’re able to say “please”.

These de facto children,

Are fed fancy feasts and more,

Their little eyes will melt your heart,

Some will meet you at the door.

Some rest on silken pillows,

Or have feathers in their fur,

Do they know their privilege?

How far they are, from where they were?

All God’s creatures, great and small,

Have a place here on the earth,

Some are just more fortunate,

Owning a human near from birth.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Sinistrality ... Finally

Today’s word is “sinistrality” ... left-handedness.

Finally

It is said that at the end of time

     we will be separated,

Sheep on the right, goats on the left

     according to God’s formula of righteousness.

There will be no sinistrality involved

     as he divines the truth of all that’s past.

He sees into hearts. Better than we do

    ourselves. This God who sees you.

The strange thing is, he’s not toting up

     good and bad deeds. Not weighing them

           like gold on a scale.

He’s looking for his lost loves. Those who have

     longed passionately for him all their lives long.

          He will know them by their grace-filled eyes

               and welcome them into his Kingdom Come.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Rodomontade... Windy

Today’s word is “rodomontade” ... vainglorious boasting or bragging; pretentious, blustering talk. (Dictionary.com)

Windy

Ah! It is the season,

For rodomontade and stories,

As all the politicians,

Are looking for their glory.

We will try to bear it,

As we watch them in their races,

Judging who will be the best,

Discerning truth in smiling faces.

We wonder if anyone at all,

Can lead us out of our confusion,

Or if it’s even possible,

To reach a good conclusion.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Backlins ... Again

Today’s word is “backlins” ... backward; back. (Dictionary.com)

Again

Who would want to go backlins?

What would you find there?

Repeats and rewinds,

Loud music and long hair.

What would you learn then,

From what happened before?

Something new for your future,

That you could adore?

It’s easy enough

To time travel this way,

Read a history book,

Let a video play.

Those who can’t learn,

From these quaint devices,

May find déjà vu,

To be most precise.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Plaudit ... Trophy

Today’s word is “plaudit” ... an enthusiastic expression of approval. (Dictionary.com)

Trophy

Some people work for plaudits,

That may or may not come,

Some for adoration,

Not for praise that’s just humdrum.

Some hope to make a difference,

To bring peace or prosperity,

Some to make things equal,

Others for diversity.

Some want their life remembered,

By all within their sphere,

That they’ll be spoken of in quiet tones,

Each and every year.

Some will give unselfishly,

Of time and wealth and self,

Knowing that no good can come,

Of treasure on a shelf.

As our days slip on away,

(No guarantees are given)

Our choices travel with us,

It’s by our hearts they’re riven.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020