Burning the Midnight Oil - Scholar's Edition

Erudite /AIR-uh-dyte/ Adjective – Having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying.

Erudite student

He learned his lessons by rote

It smells of the lamp

http://joelshorriblehaiku.blogspot.com/

Voting by the Numbers...

Cassandra /kuh-SAND-druh/ Noun – 1: A daughter of Priam endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed 2: One that predicts misfortune or disaster.

Soothsayers expound

Political Cassandras

Gone November 4

Heading into the Sunset...

Bittersweet /BIT-ter-sweet/ Noun – 1: something that is bittersweet, especially: pleasure accompanied by suffering or regret.

Bittersweet freedom

Sirens of retirement call

Give in to their song

ACTING!!!

Histrionic /hiss-tree-AWE-nick/ Adjective – 1: deliberately affected: overly dramatic or emotional: theatrical 2: of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater

See Shatner, William

Defined as histrionic

Hear him howl, “Kahn! Kahn!”

It Was the Salmon Mousse

Louche /LOOSH/ Adjective – Not reputable or decent

Protective facemasks

The louche politician scoffs

The Grim Reaper waits

Can You Count to Ten?

Decalogue • \DECK-uh-log\ • Noun – 1: capitalized: ten commandments 2: a basic set of rules carrying binding authority

Here’s My Decalogue

God said to trembling Moses

Now, use them wisely

Welcome to National Zipper Day!

Modesty closure

Behold the mighty zipper

Check it every day

April 17 - National Haiku Poetry Day - Celebrate the Syllables

The humble haiku

Evocative, compact prose

Let’s sing its praises

Alone again. Naturally...

Hermetic \herr-MET-tick\ Adjective - 1: relating to or characterized by occultism or abstruseness: recondite 2a: airtight b: impervious to external influence c: recluse, solitary

Frank the Hermetic

Lived thus not by his choice

Garlic was his vice

The Wide, Open Spaces...

Adjective /PLEN-uh-ree/ Adjective – 1: complete in every respect: absolute, unqualified, 2: fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present.

Cold, empty spaces

No plenary session here

Canceled by COVID

The Froggy Has No Clothes...

Viridity /vuh-RID-it-teet/ Noun – 1a: the quality or state of being green, b: the color of grass or foliage 2: naive innocence

Stark viridity

It’s not easy being green

Where are Kermit’s pants?

Irish for a Day...

Crwth /KROOTH/ Noun – An ancient Celtic stringed instrument that is plucked or bowed

Playing “Celtic Ray”

The crwth’s jangling strings sing out

We’re Irish today!

Ah, to feel love's sting...

Pistanthrophobia /pist-ANTH-throw-foe-bee-uh/ Noun – Fear of trusting people due to past experience and relationships gone wrong.

The sting of lost love

Sad Pistanthrophobia

True love will return

Rhapsody in Blue...

Communing with the music of George Gershwin at the Library of Congress.

Gershwin’s piano.
Wood, ebony, ivory
Made divine music

It’s Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Always observed on January 31st, Inspire Your Heart With Art Day is a day to ponder how art affects your heart. Art is valued and appreciated for all sorts of reasons.

Of the broad spectrum of art created in the world, the pieces that move us to tears or cause us to burst out into joyous laughter remain with us for a lifetime. Whether we are touched by music or see into an artist soul through their work, art has the power to change us, to inspire our hearts.

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

encourages us to explore the many genres of art and let it inspire us.

HOW TO OBSERVE

• Visit an art gallery.
• Read a good book.
• Listen to music.
• Attend a ballet performance
• Start your masterpiece.
• Teach someone how to play an instrument.
• Attend an art lecture.
• Explore a new technique.
• See an inspirational film.
• Share your art with others.

Confront Your Clownish Fears...

Coulrophobia • \KOLE-ruh-fobe-eeyah\ • Noun - An extreme fear of clowns.

The psychiatrist’s suggestion to his client, who was being treated for chronic coulrophobia. “Confront your fears, go to the circus,” he intoned. “If the circus performers attack,” he continued, “always go right for the juggler.”

Give Me a Kiss, You Big Lug...

Cosmeticize /coz-MET-uh-syze/ Verb – To make (something unpleasant or ugly) superficially attractive.

Lipstick on a pig

Cosmeticized ugly

You wanna kiss it?