Susurration ...

Today’s word is “sursurration” ...  a soft murmur; whisper. (Dictionary.com)

Golden

Everything this day is speaking,

Dew whispering in shoe-kicked leaves,

Those left hanging susurrating,

While the sunshine through them weaves.

Cold-chilled bones are all aquiver,

Autumn’s fingers on your skin,

There’s a knowing of the season,

That comes soft, from deep within.

Pumpkins sprout by every doorway,

Deer are standing in the frost,

Burning bushes shout their protest,

Their whole world now tempest tossed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Argy-Bargy ... What?

Today’s word is “argy-bargy” ...  a vigorous discussion or dispute. (Dictionary.com)

What?

This is the night for argy-bargy,

The opponents will commence,

To attack each other’s policies,

And then mount a strong defense.

If logic’s not effective,

They’ll use ad hominem,

Throwing all the dirt around,

By hook or crook or whim.

In the peanut gallery,

The people will with deepening sighs,

Wish for facts and evidence,

Wondering where they went and why.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Avow ... New

Today’s word is “avow” ... to declare frankly or openly; own; acknowledge; confess; admit. (Dictionary.com)

New

Our faults are many,

To avow them brings relief.

Forgiveness the key.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Illation ... Proof

Today’s word is “illation” ... an inference; conclusion. (Dictionary.com)

Proof

You may use illation,

To help you prove your argument,

To come to a conclusion,

To remain most congruent.

Or you can circle your opponent,

Hurling insults and objections,

Hoping to disarm him,

To shine light on your perfection.

But those around will see ...

When the truth comes out at last,

That all your tricky tactics,

Left you at best, outclassed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Supernumerary ... Extra

Today’s word is “supernumerary” ... being in excess of the usual, proper, or prescribed number; additional; extra. (Dictionary.com)

Extra

What if the supernumerary

     was perfectly ordinary?

14 eggs in a carton; 2 pairs of shoes

     in a box,

18 days in a week with a 6 day

     weekend.

Would we notice? Or would the extraordinary,

     made ordinary become

           invisible?

Would we take for granted our

     4 eyes and 20 fingers?

Would we amaze ourselves with our

     extra large brains? I’m sure someone

          would still be labeled a genius

               and someone else ... well, you know.

Morality would be perfection

     making criticism of another difficult.

We would roam about, thinking all

     these things our natural state,

          and miss the wonder of it all.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

     

Whillikers ... Best

Best

What would be the greatest thing,
That could make you shout or sing, 
Or exclaim, “Gee Whillikers!”
A new car or diamond ring?

Maybe something without weight,
Like real true peace or lack of hate,
Or joy and purpose for your life,
Or love before it is too late.

What lasting happiness would be,
Will vary each to each you see,
As we measure every thing,
Against desires to fight or flee.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2020

Cachinnate ... Frown

Today’s word is “cachinnate” ...  to laugh loudly or immoderately. (Dictionary.com)

Frown

In your church you must be quiet,

Do not cachinnate or sing,

Wear your mask and hold your tongue,

Do not let those praises ring.

The virus lurks ‘round every corner,

Spies from belfries on those below,

It is devious and sneaky,

It watches when you come or go.

This disease is much too human,

Checking when you sit or rise,

It waits for those who do not care,

So wash your hands; don’t touch your eyes!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Butyraceous ... Dessert

Today’s word is “butyraceous” ... of the nature of, resembling, or containing butter. (Dictionary.com)

Dessert

Ah! All the butyraceous things!

Cookies, pies and cakes,

Give me the real thing any day,

Nothing phony, fake.

Add a little chocolate,

And some sugar too,

Lovely, sweet indulgence,

Satisfactorily imbued.

If only consequences,

Did not flow from these fine treats,

There is only one solution,

Run away with swiftest feet!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Caduceus ... One

Today’s word is “caducous” ... dropping off very early, as leaves. (Dictionary.com)

One

When speaking of planted things,

Botanical words are necessary,

Each planty part is special,

From petal to bright berry.

Fall brings to mind the caducous,

As leaves begin to fall,

From tree to shrub they loose their hold,

On branch or ivied wall.

We know that it will happen,

Yet we close our eyes,

Soon enough cold wind will blow,

And we’ll huddle close, inside.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Yare ... Brighter

Today’s word is “yare” ... quick; agile. (Dictionary.com)

Brighter

Would that all people

Be yare in finding goodness.

Watch black clouds scatter!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Alimentation ... Choices

Today’s word is “alimentation” ... nutrition; nourishment. (Dictionary.com)

Choices

Diets and fundamentals,

Of our alimentation,

Appear on social media,

All across the nation.

Vegetarian or vegan,

Omnivores and fruititarians,

There’s something there for everyone,

Even the contrarians.

So pick the one you like the best,

Try it for a while,

Perhaps you’ll find something you like,

That will last beyond the trial!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Probity ... Bright

Today’s word is “probity” ... integrity and uprightness; honesty. (Dictionary.com)

Bright

Where are the faithful?

Those with probity are scarce.

The sacred beckons.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Mellifluous ... Sounding

Today’s word is “mellifluous” ... flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey. (Dictionary.com)

Sounding

Sacred candles burn,

Bells ring mellifluously,

We know, all is well.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Festinate ...

Today’s word is “festinate” ... to hurry; hasten. (Dictionary.com)

Cool

Puffy white clouds crowd the sky,

The sun is shining bright,

Trees still green with summer’s leaves,

Will not change tonight.

The mystery that festinates the fall,

Is yet resting, laying low,

Waiting for a secret sign,

That will alert its winds to blow.

When that moment comes,

The leaves will blaze and burn,

And turn into wild harbingers,

That no one sane dare spurn.

In the wind, the fire and flame,

Releasing limbs will sigh,

Letting go their proof of life,

‘Til spring again comes nigh.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Quondam ... Build

Today’s word is “quondam” ... former; onetime. (Dictionary.com)

Build

I’m looking at our failing deck,

The steps are wearing thin,

The railings splintered, hard to hold,

And shredded where the cat has been.

There is a plan for something new,

That will last for years and years,

The quondam thing will not be missed.

No eyes will fill with falling tears.

We’ll have to fit the flower pots,

In a brand new sunny home,

But that’s ok, as we will have

A place from which we will not roam.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Spang ... Shoo

Today’s word is “spang” ...  directly, exactly. (Dictionary.com)

Shoo

I looked up and there he was,

Spang in the middle of the room,

His little tail was twitching quick,

His search about to resume.

I yelled, “Not here!” and he ran quick,

Back out through the door,

I’d fed him nuts, and so he thought,

He’d come in and get some more.

The door was open for the cat,

A black squirrel came instead,

The cat’s now in, the squirrel is gone,

I hope he went to bed!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Blatherskite ...

Today’s word is “blatherskite” ... a person given to voluble, empty talk. (Dictionary.com)

Repeat

Blatherskites? Present.

Talking heads lift up their hands.

They’ve all been to school.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Lapidify ... Solid

Today’s word is “lipidity” ... to turn into stone. (Dictionary.com)

Solid

I have heard of Midas,

Who turned everything to gold,

He was surrounded by its brilliance,

It was something to behold.

What if there was a charm,

That turned everything to stone,

If one did something bad,

Hurting soul or blood and bone?

All the evil ones lipidified,

A garden everywhere on earth,

With statues frozen in the act,

Of them, there’d be no dearth.

But, where would the line be drawn,

What deeds would be the chosen?

If every sin was on the list,

We would all be frozen!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Threequel ... Movie

Today’s word is “threequel” ... the third in a series of literary works, movies, etc.; a second sequel (Dictionary.com)

Movie

It was so good we saw it twice,

Then we saw the sequel,

And when it was finally announced,

We together watched the threequel.

We thought that it was over,

That we knew the whole, wild story,

But suddenly, a prequel!

And we were in our glory!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Ineffable ...

Today’s word is “ineffable” ... incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible. (Dictionary.com)

New

When we are amazed,

By music, art or love,

Words are much too small,

To describe thoughts from above.

Sometimes it takes a tear 

Or another’s touch,

To express the great ineffable,

When you’re feeling so very much.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Vale ... Shadow

Today’s word is “vale” ... the world, or mortal or earthly life. (Dictionary.com)

Shadow

When we walk from this side to the other,

From this vale, then in through heaven’s gate,

And turn and look at where it was we lived and toiled,

What will we think of our eternal state?

And more than this, what new observations,

Will amaze our minds and convict our hearts,

As we see how we had affected others,

By the words and actions of our chosen parts?

Will we see that desire was our golden guide?

That by wealth or greed or power we found our way?

Or will we see, though we were human and so feeble,

That love alone was our hope and stay?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Somnambulism ... Alarm

Today’s word is “somnambulism” ... sleepwalking. (Dictionary.com)

Alarm

Is this a nightmare?

A somnambulist might know.

I’ll go back to sleep.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Doodle ... Walls

Today’s word is “doddle” ... something easily done, fixed. (Dictionary.com)

Walls

Living inside now.

It’s sure to be a doddle.

Yet ... cabin fever.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Prometheus ... Maybe

Today’s word is “Promethean” ... creative; boldly original. (Dictionary.com)

Maybe

Promethean tales are mythical.

Those deeds of gods and men,

Some kind of morals modeled,

For those who think they can.

But made-up stories lose their luster,

Unlike the truth passed down in time,

Those truths worth carefully passing down,

Page by page and line by line.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020

Squib ... Build

Today’s word is “squib” ... short and witty or sarcastic saying or writing. (Dictionary.com)

Build

Works that change the human mind,

Are not squibs, or lightly phrased,

But heavy, thoughtful tomes and pages,

From the depths of conscience raised.

However, then they do diverge,

Dependent on the thought’s first gleam,

And from whose keyboard or prophetic pen,

They’ve come to form the favored theme.

For ill or good, across the land,

Across the seas, to the whole world,

Ideas float through many minds,

Where actions from them soon unfurl.

Played out in front of eager eyes,

These stories will their truths reveal,

And all who live within those places

Will find them most concrete and real.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2020