More Rhyme and Reason: People Places Passion Purpose

By Russ Leger

Writing rhymes began in 1945, my senior year at Nebraska University. The students were preparing a stage production to celebrate the end of World War II. I was asked to write a song and sing it. I did it and my joy in writing rhymes began.

I dont think I ever sat down just for the purpose of writing a rhyme. There was always a motive like birthdays or special events. The cover of my first book and this one really sums it up-People, Places, Passion, Purpose. It wasnt very long that I learned my rhymes were best when inspired by God. The readers and time tell the most about a book. A priest that I know called to tell me that he read The Parish Shepherd, the first thing each morning. A second priest said he used the poem TWO PLANS when he spoke to a group of ladies.

In this book More Rhyme and Reason, the poems came from the same kind of inspirations. One of the best I have written is first in this book, The Politician. Some poems are happy rhymes, for birthdays or anniversaries. Some are of places traveled. I like to write rhymes that teach and hopefully there will be fulfillment. If a poet inspired me in my student days it was Longfellow. I have always strived to achieve a message with perfect rhyme and meter. If any reader of my writing is entertained and gratified, I have achieved my goal.

Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475965766

Russ Leger

Russ Leger was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1923. Elmwood was home until 1935 when the family moved to Burchard, Nebraska. The 6'4" right-hander pitched 3 of 4 games to make Burchard the Class "C" State Champion in 1941, his senior year. After his University of Nebraska days, he began a career in broadcasting, entertainment, and selling. Since last publication, his devoted wife Rosemarie died August of 2006. Their family consists of 7 sons, 1 daughter, 21 grandchildren, and 13 great grand children.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Russ Leger.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-6575-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-6576-6 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012922929

iUniverse rev. date: 01/18/2013

Contents

Introduction

Section 1

The Politician

The Library Desk

Kay

Jasmine Rose

Ariel Michaela

Ode To Harold W. Andersen

Calamity Closet

To Joy On Mother’s Day

The Rosary Lady

You Must Carry Your Cross If You Would Be With The Lord

Terry & Coffee House

Happy Birthday Russ

Thank You Omaha Library

Door To Door

Mandy

The Poor Clares

That Special Girl Sheree’

Tim O’flynn

Section 2

Happy Anniversary John & Yvonne

Sheri’s Birthday

Mother’s Day Oops!

Invoice

Dear Bobbie & Adrian

Happy Birthday Kelley

Deca

Happy Birthday Mary

Ode To Dr. John Heffron

St. Bernard’s School

Hershey Songs;

Merry Christmas To You

To Rosemarie . . . Christmas 2004

Ode To Jimmy Wilson Jr.

Martin Donut Song

A Poem For Jim Stevens

Liberal Prayer

To Dave & Jeanette Larson

Section 3

Doretta

Edward Jedlicka

A Letter To Antwan

To Carrie Major

Laura

Dear Pat

Melody Joy

Our 50 Years Rosemarie & Russ

To Lindsey Our Granddaughter

Ed & Shelia Osterhaus

My Rosemarie

Poem For Jack’s Birthday

Ode To Jeane Moore

Poem For John’s Birthday

Don Humphrey

Meghan & Lee

To A Loving Cousin, Francine

Lyric To Route 66

For The Mormon Wagon Train

Micki

Kristen

Dear Sue

Section 4

Marc

Birthday Cards

Mary Mccann

Megan Smith

Sheri’s Birthday

Southern Adventure Epcot Surprise

Southern Adventure Alabama Breakdown

Christmas 2004

Sandy

Erica

To Rosemarie On Mother’s Day

Valentine To Rosemarie

Poems To Friends

Magic Body Announces

I Wonder Where The Fire Went

Our Nurse Ruth

Our Nurse Linn

John Kool

Dear Joe

Meghan And Lee

Rosemarie’s Thank You

Section 5

Ode To Ellen Rohan Remembering Grandma Rohan

The Rosemarie And Russ Leger Family 2009 Christmas Newsletter

For My Cousin Beverly Honaker

My Good Friend Peggy Gray

Dick & Margy Hayden

Dear Fr. Matthew

Ode To Steve Goetzinger

Dear Mary

Dear Derek

Mom

Roxxi

Wilma

Dear Kathy,

Dear Mary

To Wilma Snyder

Easter Blessings

The Seven C’s

Happy Birthday Judy

Dear Tommy,

Bunny

Section 6

God’s Call

Dear Donna,

Don & Russ

For Those Who Shout Death To Jews

Ernest Ogugua

The Handyman

Modern Day Christian Rapper

Al Abhi

To Rosemarie On Her 80Th Birthday

Dear Mr. Caretaker

Ode To Queen Ellie

Christmas 2005

Ashley And Paleontology

Raymond Pettinger

To Bunny For Her Birthday

Ode To Jeff Scanlan

Keep Your Ears And Your Shoulders And Your Hips In Line

Dear Kadin

Don’t Rearrange

Don Reding

To Dan On His 25Th Birthday

Happy Birthday Greg

Ode To Kitty Brown

Cousin Esther

Ode To Esther Mauer

Introduction

Custom has a great influence on all people and affects how we live our lives. This introduction is an example. In the first book of Rhyme and Reason, the introduction was lengthy because of circumstances that brought it to conclusion. This introduction will be short a change in custom after seven years and many rewarding experiences. But this time it could not contain all the rhymes I’ve written since 2005 plus some from prior years.

Now, I want to give credit where it is due, to my dedicated associate, Yvonne Smith. In the first book the events of how we met were revealed. Yvonne overheard me recite a couple of lines to the lady at the checkout. I can truthfully say that God’s inspiration brought us together as a team. Let me explain my poems are usually written on notebook or typing paper. Then Yvonne gets a stack of these to type into her computer. We have meetings for adjustments, discussions, and finally conclusions.

To complicate this book I had 2 years of hospitalization, rehab, and other delaying circumstances. Yvonne exhibited the greatest of patience such as I have never before witnessed. It makes me think back to that day in the store and our chance meeting to fulfill God’s plan and accomplish the book, Rhyme and Reason.

God also knew another key necessity, the patience and understanding of Yvonne’s husband, John. To this exemplary couple, John and Yvonne Smith, an example for all married couples this book is dedicated.

My sincerest thanks,

Russ Leger

Section 1

THE POLITICIAN

   Best you listen with suspicion

   When you hear a politician

   Cause the record shows

   He does not tell the truth

   And you better know condition

   And some of his tradition

   Long before you go into the voting booth

   He will speak to you with fervor

   When he wants to be your server

   But he does not hesitate to be uncouth

   So with knowledge you can measure

   Store it well like hidden treasure

   Place your X’s where you know you will not goof

   America’s survival

   Now depends on a revival

   Of men who make integrity a must

   Let’s do ourselves a favor

   Vote for men that we can savor

   Men who live our motto words

   In God We Trust

                              Russ Leger

                              September 7, 2006

THE LIBRARY DESK

The Library Desks are here for all

To use and make their plans

It serves the students, sometimes writers

But seldom hired hands

They use that surface for their work

To organize and plan

They see determination build

And smiles that say I can

Now as the days just come and go

New faces will appear

They do the same with work and plans

Like all the folks last year

Every library has these desks

With surface smooth and clean

No better place to do your work

In atmosphere serene

So, in a library close to you

Try a desk and see

How well your thoughts can concentrate

To create what’s to be

This poem was written December of 2005 by Russ Leger, author of his new book of poems, Rhyme and Reason. Through the entire year of 2005, Russ and his associate, Yvonne Smith, spent many hours of preparation in the Benson Branch Library. Yvonne is the author of her book A Mother’s Cry for the Truth.

The Library Desk was written as a challenge to poetic composition. It is appropriate to be seen and read here where the library staff was so helpful in the composition of Rhyme and Reason.

To all the staff: Thank you.

Russ Leger

Yvonne and Russ had discussed layout for the back cover. When they met for that final session and Yvonne read the poem, she reacted with excitement. She exclaimed, I can’t believe he wrote a poem for the back of the book. Rosemarie (wife of Russ) replied, Oh you know Yvonne, if he wanted to, he could write a poem about this library desk. That was a challenge. So, Russ wrote the poem.

KAY