Twice Upon a Rhyme

By Betty Beatrice Lems

This is my never-ending, ongoing contribution to poetry for over fifty years of things I've felt or seen (past and present) that I have simply needed to say. It was never my intention to shareit was just for mebut because of countless requests from family and friends, I decided to use my woman's prerogative to change my mind. Writing poetry has worked as therapy for me, always keeping me on an even keel. As you can see from most of my poetry, my happy times far outweigh the unhappy times of my very lucky life. My hope is that those who read this poetry might see and feel a great love within, possibly a little bit of humor, some love of nature, and maybe some reminders of happenings in their own lives in times that have passed through the years. In other words, I hope to touch your life in some small ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524656102

Betty Beatrice Lems

Betty Beatrice Lems was born in Charlottesville Virginia and always considered herself a “Southern bell”. She was raised in the country with nature as a playmate. She made good use of nature to entertain herself when young and also to call upon her childhood memories so many years later. She has lived in California for the past 50 years. She was happily married had one daughter and one grandson. She passed on to heaven in the fall of 2016. She worked as an executive secretary, but a plus in her life was teaching a Yoga class for 23 years. After she retired she continued to stay active in Yoga, writing her poetry, and took are of her plants, flowers and her hummingbird feeders. In addition she traveled in the Spring and Fall to her country home in Keswick Virginia. Twice upon a Rhyme is her second book of poetry, with Once upon a Rhyme being her first published book. She finished Twice upon a Rhyme before she passed away but never saw it published. I, her husband of 60 plus years fulfilled her wishes and made sure this book was published. My wife was an incredible amazing woman. She was and will always be the love of my life. I miss her terribly.

Book preview

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© 2017 Betty Beatrice Lems. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  12//20/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5611-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5610-2 (e)

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Contents

SECTION I:   THIS AND THAT

(This is just the way of this and that

no matter what page you are looking at

And in this book where ever you roam

there you’ll find a rhyming poem!)

SECTION II:   NATURE’S JOYS

(The bells have rung The songs were sung

Poems of nature roll off my tongue!)

SECTION III:   LOVE

(Where ever in live we may rove.

We are always seeking a treasure

trove of Love!)

SECTION IV:   CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

(From far back in my memory

These words that come seem to set me free.

Stories and humor my Mama related so pleasantly.

As if she knew someday she would release the poet in me.

So as though it was at her bid

that’s exactly what I did!)

Thanks, Mama!

SECTION V:   SUBJECT OF THOUGHTS

(At any time my heart may speak

and my mind plays a game of hide and seek.

Thank you eternally and lovingly

for ideas you gave me unknowingly.)

Author’s note: Many times writing a poem has acted as therapy for me. Whether happy or sad—if I write it down, somehow whatever the subject, it is all settled. As you can see from this collection my happy times far outweigh the sad times in my very lucky life. This book is dedicated with great love to ALL of my family (Lems’ and Gibson’s) in the hopes they receive as much joy reading it as I had writing it over all these years. Thanks for all the ideas you have given me unknowingly by something you did or said. My biggest thanks, however, goes to my husband Jay, for all of the sorting and indexing and sometimes critiquing of my poetry that he did so willingly. I could never have gotten it all together in book form without him.

T HIS AND THAT

*****

THIS IS JUST THE WAY OF THIS AND THAT

NO MATTER WHAT PAGE YOU ARE LOOKING AT

AND IN THIS BOOK WHERE EVER YOU ROAM

THERE YOU’LL FIND A RHYMING POEM!

W ELCOME

TO

MY WORLD OF POETRY

Welcome to My World of Poetry theme

That graces this year’s poetry regime

And perhaps plants seeds for you of a daydream.

To touch your hearts in sweet embrace

To slow down your life’s fast pace

To make you happy in any case.

To while away a couple of hours

To stop a while and smell the flowers

To be conscience of your reading powers.

Perhaps then you’ll get totally caught

In the world of the writer’s thoughts

Then My World of Poetry won’t be for naught.

A VARIETY OF VERSE?

I searched to seek, what could I write?

Something for our new book, cheery and bright. Searched and thought, yet nothing seemed right,

All of my thoughts had vanished in flight.

I racked my brain, tried in vain

But thoughts went from my brain, just like a drain.

So here I sit in my cozy domain

I may open a bottle of fizzy champagne.

Thinking so hard my brain burst like a hurricane

Now—I’ve just turned into a scatterbrain.

S OMEWHERE

Somewhere just short of forever

Hanging just off the tails of never Are the wonders of my fantasyland

Want to come? Come; hold my hand.

I know my thoughts are some times extreme

But join me please—perhaps just to dream. And we’ll travel there together—you and I

It will be a place we call pie in the sky.

Side by side and hand in hand

We’ll discover the mysteries of my wonderland

A place my mind sometimes lets me have only a glimpse

A dwelling place for all of my mind imps!

P ENNIES

I found 19 pennies there on the ground

This mystery held me spellbound.

Why 19 pennies I asked myself

Well, I’ll take them home and put them on my shelf.

I stood there thinking this is so grand

And I picked up the pennies and held them in my hand.

Put them in my pocket without hesitation

For later a little contemplation.

It’s been said angels toss coins down

When memories of someone they love abound.

At home now all 19 pennies are in a special place

And when I walk by and see them, do I just imagine a