Ravenous … Done

Today’s word is “ravenous” … extremely hungry; famished; voracious. (Dictionary.com)

Done

Hungry for prestige and power,

Ravenous for all the good things,

Not caring, ignoring suffering,

Winning, whatever it brings.

No morals or scruples or goodness,

No unerring ruler or scale,

Victory measured in dollars,

Refusing to stumble or fail.

Then, in the end at the reckoning,

Where everything comes to the light,

Gnashing and wailing and fear,

Will at last show us who’s right.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Revenant … Flicker

Today’s word is “revenant” … a person who returns as a spirit after death; ghost. (Dictionary.com)

Flicker

In the middle of the night,

On October thirty first,

Revenants will scour the land,

When from phony graves they burst.

They’ll carry bags of paper,

They’ll scurry to and fro,

They’ll make a lot of noises,

Everywhere they go.

Trick or treat will ring out,

Candled pumpkins shine,

They’ll come home tired and happy,

Halloween is fine!!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Faustian … Spell

Today’s word is “Faustian” … sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain. (Dictionary.com)

Spell

If there’s no temptation,

Is your virtue real?

Can you hold your head up,

Knowing you’ve no urge to steal?

If you’ve made no bargain,

Faustian or otherwise,

Are you better than the rest,

Have you opened up your eyes?

In this world of questions,

It’s best to keep your head,

Stand upon the things you know,

Watch for better things ahead.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Prestidigitation … Canvas

Today’s word is “prestidigitation” … sleight of hand; legerdemain. (Dictionary.com)

Canvas

It ran above us, colors,

Painted on the sky,

An unexpected rainbow,

A pleasure for our eyes.

What prestidgitation,

Caused this fleeting wonder?

Why is it that rainbows,

Almost always come with thunder?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Verst …

Today’s word is “verst” … a Russian measure of distance equivalent to 3,500 feet, or 0.6629 mile (1.067 kilometers). (Dictionary.com)

Step

A verst or a mile,

What will measure the distance?

‘Tween earth and heaven.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Cryosphere …

Today’s word is “cryosphere” … the part of the earth’s surface where, at temperatures below 32°F (0°C), the water is frozen solid. (Dictionary.com)

Remain

Hottest dessert, flower rare,

Deepest ocean, blind fish swim,

Algae in the cryosphere,

All a part of nature’s hymn.

In rare air the eagle soars,

Above all our pain and woe,

Yet everything’s so beautiful,

Where else, where else could we go?

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Shivaree … Whoopie

Today’s word is “shivaree” … a mock serenade with kettles, pans, horns, and other noisemakers given for a newly married couple; charivari. (Dictionary.com)

Whoopie

Wouldn’t it be fun,

To do something wild,

Like jump all around,

Free as a child? 

To be just as loud 

As a fine shivaree,

With not one problem,

And no worries?

Let loose a little,

Let all the stress go,

It will bring happiness,

So don’t be too slow!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Mojo … Pooped

Today’s word is “mojo” … exceptional ability, good luck, success. (Dictionary.com)

Pooped

He’s lays with his chin on the carpet,

His eyes shut but tail all a twitch,

His mojo has taken a beating,

Though his day has gone with no hitch.

In fact, that’s why he’s exhausted,

He’s been chasing small creatures all day,

And running for cover from noises,

And whatever else … who can say?

He’s cute like a baby while sleeping,

But when he’s awake he is wild,

At least all his running is outside,

At least he isn’t a child!

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

 

Colubrine …

Today’s word is “colubrine” … of or resembling a snake; snakelike. (Dictionary.com)

Later

Climbing up the tree,

Colubrine vines; a green hug.

Summer flowers wait.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Quickhatch … Careful

Today’s word is “quickhatch” … a wolverine. (Dictionary.com)

Careful

Beware the quickhatch,

     And all other strange wildlings.

Tis the season when your eyes

     May betray you.

In the deep woods, and on the streets,

     In bright, plastic, forms,

They’ll assail you.

They are not alive,

     But bear a resemblance,

To creatures in books and in rhymes,

     They bob and they weave,

In the windy fall gales,

     Tied to the lawn, lest they leave.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Penumbral … Flutter

Today’s word is “penumbral” … relating to or being a shadowy, indefinite, or marginal area. (Dictionary.com)

Flutter

We are, it seems, walking with

     outstretched hands.

Reaching for something solid.

     Putting a toe forward, carefully.

Surely, somewhere in this

     Shadow within a shadow

           there is a ledge, an edge of light.

Squinting, we move forward slowly,

     Aware only of our breathing.

Occasionally there is a flicker,

     a movement. Of what we are not sure.

Yesterday this place was familiar;

     we were confident of our steps.

 But now this penumbral darkness

     has settled in, like a thick fog 

         on an autumn morning.

Perhaps if we stop and listen,

     we will hear a familiar voice;

          a sign that we are nearing home.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Chaebol …

Today’s word is “chaebol” … a South Korean conglomerate, usually owned by a single family, based on authoritarian management and centralized decision-making. (Dictionary.com)

Win

Power can corrupt.

Yet a chaebol can collapse.

True power builds up.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Hex … Current

Today’s word is “hex” …  spell; charm. (Dictionary.com)

Current

Whirling through the night sky,

Curdled clouds fly quick,

Imaginary witches,

Ride high on wild broomsticks.

Their imaginary cackles,

Shout hexes through the air,

Hoping the mere sound of them,

Will give those below a scare.

Those who run at eventide,

May see unexpected things,

Especially in October,

When the cries of goblins ring.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Fartlek … Push

Today’s word is “fartlek” … a training technique, used especially among runners, consisting of bursts of intense effort loosely alternating with less strenuous activity. (Dictionary.com)

Push

Every day the sun rises, and then

     Sets.

A cycle. A rhythm. A dependable

     Fact.

We, in turn, stumble, fall and rise

     Again.

Where is this unintentional fartlek taking

     Us?

Are we building strength? Endurance?

     Patience?

Or do we only feel the monotony, the

     Pain?

Is there a goal that makes this effort

     Meaningful?

If not. Why then run the race at

     All?

Despite all our philosophies, our

     Questions …

We carry on. As if we are sure of our

     Destination.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Toujours perdrix … Everything

Today’s word is “tourjours perdix” … too much of a good thing. (Dictionary.com)

Everything

Some of us have been spoiled,

     All our lives.

We thought we had trauma and drama.

     We thought we had trouble.

Never knowing that our biggest problem,

     Is tourjours perdix.

All the things we’ve taken for granted.

     A trip to a store. A cup of cappuccino.

A day in church. A ballgame. 

     A safe place to stay. A meal.

All so commonplace.

     And yet not for most.

What do you do when your cup overflows?

     What do you do with excess?

How to you even out the topography 

      Of the earth’s people?

Freedom. Rights given by God.

      The ability to choose your course.

Not so commonplace. Not easy to share.

     Coveted by the world.

Something deeper lies here; something

     Nearly untouchable. A mystery.

How a people can continue. In good faith.

     And keep a dream alive.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Armscye … Oblivious

Today’s word is “armscye” … the armhole opening in a garment through which the hand, and then the arm, passes, and to which a sleeve may be attached. (Dictionary.com)

Oblivious

He is the perfect gentleman,

From his armscye to his shoes,

Picking clothing carefully,

The best he’ll always choose.

His clothing makes him special,

Jaunty and perfumed,

He walks with perfect confidence,

Into every room.

He does not hear the whispers,

Does not see the looks,

He flashes perfect teeth,

Like he’s in a fashion book.

But when he empty speaks,

His image is undone,

His vain pathetic words,

Become other people’s fun.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021

Pariah … Gramarye … Windy

Today’s word is “pariah” … any person or animal that is generally despised or avoided. Yesterday’s word was “gramarye” … occult learning; magic. I missed it, so here, hopefully are both of them. (Dictionary.com)

Windy

Halloween is on its way,

Gramarye is brewing,

Ghosts and fairies groom their gowns,

And witches stews are brewing.

These pariahs are not real,

But children love the dance,

Dressing up, pretending,

The trick or treating chance.

Adults too will hide themselves,

But they are harder cases,

Their false faces molded on,

As they run their races.

Anne Selleck

Copyright 2021