Remembrancer ... Grave

Today’s word is “remembrancer” ... a reminder; memento; souvenir. (Dictionary.com)

Grave

Long ago a ribbon,

Or simple toy of wood,

Would be a remembrancer,

For the lucky or the good.

No flashy electronics,

Or fancy fashions fine,

We’re required as tokens,

To remember special times.

On this day memorial,

The only thing we really need,

Is the image of true sacrifice,

As a message we should heed.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Acme ...

Today’s word is “acme” ... the highest point; summit; peak. (Dictionary.com)

Path

What acmes are these?

Reaching the mountain’s summit?

Or a stranger’s heart?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Pièce de résistance ... Fade

Today’s word is “pièce de résistance” ... the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction. (Dictionary.com) 

Fade

Memories wind throughout the years,

They appear and disappear like flames,

Brought forth by a scent or sound,

Or by a certain name.

Perhaps an old melody,

Or a scrapbook, treasure filled,

Will bring back a pièce de résistance,

Better than an act of will.

Sometimes it takes a kindred soul,

To remind us of our common story,

And whether we have lived in vain,

Or if we’re bound for glory.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Skylark ... Blue

Today’s word is “skylark” ... to frolic; sport. (Dictionary.com)

Blue

Any day now it will be warm,

Skylarking children will be free,

Adults will find a place to land,

Where they can sun and read and be.

Winter’s fingertips are slow

To let their claim on us to fade,

So chill hangs on in spite of time,

And we huddle in the shade.

But the circle will be closed,

It goes around unceasingly,

We will yet enjoy the spring,

And summer’s coming, mercifully.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Bovarism ... Oops

Today’s word is “bovarism” ... an exaggerated, especially glamorized, estimate of oneself; conceit. (Dictionary.com)

Oops

He was very proud.

His bovarism knew no bounds,

And that’s when he fell.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Peradventure ... Eons

Today’s word is “peradventure” ... it may be; maybe; possibly; perhaps. (Dictionary.com)

Eons

Do you peradventure think,

In the beginning, vast,

Before the plants and animals,

Had their structures cast,

That a plan was put in place,

To define their bones,

To knit their roots and sinews,

And unique patterns sew?

Or was it an accident,

How each leaf and bud,

Each fin and scale and muscle,

Come perfectly from mud?

There has not been time enough,

To weave this entangled world,

The mind of God has wrought it,

And it before us did unfurl.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Palaver ... Rise

Today’s word is “palaver” ... profuse and idle talk; chatter. (Dictionary.com)

Rise

So much noise and palaver,

Coming from the trees,

They must have big plans,

As they plot amongst the leaves.

Sounds like hundreds up there,

So many different songs,

Everyone is looking,

For somewhere to belong.

Very early every day,

Before the moon has set,

They begin their chorus,

Wake up you sleepy heads!!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Lacustrine ... Lap

Today’s word is “lacustrine” ... of or relating to a lake. (Dictionary.com)

Lap

Footprints in the sand,

A lacustrine vacation.

A place to forget.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Dentifrice ... Crooked

Today’s word is “dentifrice” ... a paste, powder, liquid, or other preparation for cleaning the teeth. (Dictionary.com)

Crooked

His smile was white as snow ...

With dentifrice polished clean,

His eyes were all a twinkle,

But his smile was mean.

If the devil showed up like that,

We would turn him straight away,

But he shows up like you or me,

And we ask him to stay.

He’s easy on the ears and eyes,

Nothing seems to be awry,

But when he’s done with his deceit,

You’ll be sorry for his lies.

Best to send him far away,

Before he settles in,

The price to be a friend with him,

Will surely do you in.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Sartorial ... Stalk

Today’s word is “sartorial” ... of or relating to clothing or style or manner of dress. (Dictionary.com)

Stalk

Watch them on the runway,

Strutting with sequined feathers,

Do they believe the masses,

Would wear them in any weather?

Their sartorial attitudes,

Chins up in the air,

Skinny frames like hangers,

Show they are unaware.

You can have those furs and rings,

The shirts worth more than gold,

Because those flashy accoutrements,

Will in the end, leave you cold.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Plenipotent ... Clandestine

Today’s word is “plenipotent” ... invested with or possessing full power. (Dictionary.com)

Clandestine

A caterpillar on a vine

Reaching for the sun,

Soon he will be plenipotent,

His crawling days all done.

Do you think he knew his power,

While hidden from our view?

Hidden even from himself,

How he’d become brand new?

In this world of mysteries,

A chrysalis remains,

The resurrection symbol,

The epitome of change.

If this can happen to a worm,

What of our human shells?

Perhaps we too are glory bound,

And will fly as well.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Hapax legomenon ... Billions

Today’s word is “hapax legomenon” ... a word or phrase that appears only once in a manuscript, document, or particular area of literature. (Dictionary.com)

Billions

You are special on this earth,

A hapax legomenon,

Let no one tell you otherwise,

You’re a rare phenomenon.

Unique in time you came,

Full of rare potential,

Able to create a space,

That is most essential.

So, though you may feel small,

In the book of histories,

Know your story ripples out,

And touches mysteries.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Moonshot ... Yawn

Today’s word is “moonshot” ... a very challenging and innovative project or undertaking. (Dictionary.com)

Yawn

Waking in the morning,

Facing a new day,

Can seem like a moonshot,

Unless your work’s like play.

In that case you jump up,

Excited and enthused,

Grab a cup of coffee,

And listen to your muse.

Putting brush to paper,

Or typing on computer keys,

Or styling someone’s hair,

You will be at your ease.

Labor has great meaning,

No matter how you feel,

You’ll benefit the world,

Even when it feels like an ordeal.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Judder ...

Today’s word is “judder” ... to vibrate violently. (Dictionary.com)

Spin

The world was peaceful,

Now it is all a judder.

Hang on or let go?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Pecuniary ...

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

Seeing

Dreams are dreamed to happen,

Followed by great skill,

And pecuniary mastery,

And the exercise of will.

Wrinkles always seem to come,

When money is the goal,

Temptations to become much more,

Get in the way of being whole.

Earth and it’s treasures will soon fade,

We can not hold its shine,

But gazing at the truth of God,

Will yield its treasures fine.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Nudnik ... Silly

Today’s word is “nudnik” ... a persistently dull, boring pest. (Dictionary.com)

Silly

So many nudniks!

I may be one of them myself.

But things could be worse.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Derringer-do ...

Today’s word is “derring-do” ... daring deeds; heroic daring. (Dictionary.com)

Heart

Have you ever been courageous?

Stood up before a power?

Done a deed of derring-do,

At a righteous hour?

Perhaps you would say, “No.”

And yet not realize,

Some acts of bravery you’ve done,

Have not been compromised by size.

These acts too can change the world,

Though they are unseen,

A tiny ripple in a pond,

Changing the might-have-been.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Pulchritudinous ... Rays

Today’s word is “pulchritudinous” ... physically beautiful. (Dictionary.com)

Rays

A sunset’s just a sunset,

Pulchritudinous to the eye,

All the colors and the clouds,

Designed to make you sigh.

Yet each one is one alone,

Painted in the artists hand,

All the people stand and stare,

By the sea and on the land.

Each one sees with their own eyes,

And interprets in their minds,

Ephemeral, moving memories,

Where visions new and old combine.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Sine Die ... Hold

Today’s word is “sine die” ... without fixing a day for future action or meeting. (Dictionary.com)

Hold

Do we live sine die

When everything is paused?

We must obey the missives,

No matter what they cause.

If it’s time to huddle,

Then huddle, yes we will,

If it’s time to dance and sing,

We’ll celebrate with skill.

But all this uncertainty,

Isn’t very kind,

We plod and pray and listen,

With too many rules in mind.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Boondoggle ... Crumble

Today’s word is “boondoggle” ... a wasteful and worthless project undertaken for political, corporate, or personal gain, typically a government project funded by taxpayers. (Dictionary.com)

Crumble

I very often wonder,

How their ideas come to be,

How does the discussion go,

How is it they can’t see.

Is there really someone,

Planning a bad city from the start,

Or a train that does not work,

Or budget that breaks your heart?

Such boondoggles make it clear,

We value nothing over pride,

And when the stakes get too high,

We run away and hide.

Just a little common sense,

Would bring such relief,

And encourage the creation,

Of beauties beyond belief.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Ubiety ... Fly

Today’s word is “ubiety” ...  the property of having a definite location at any given time; state of existing and being localized in space. (Dictionary.com)

Fly

We’ve ubiety,

Not so forever you know,

Different but better

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021