Author: Ray Romine

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“New Zealand scientists and engineers are applying lessons learned
from Italian geothermal work to harness heat from underground
steam.”
… News item

One knows, after sober reflection,
Those scientists missed a connection.
If unharnessed steam
Is their means toward a dream,
Too bad they by-passed our election.

by Ray Romine Friday, November 3, 1950

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“Scientists from the Universities ot Minnesota and North Dakota
are conducting experiments whioh raise the suspicion that
cockroaohes are carriers ot the infantile paralysis virus .”
…News item

The rat, the mosquito, the fly,
Have nibbled at us on the sly.
But now comes to poach
The quite lowly roach-
We humans, I guess, satisfy.

by Ray Romine Friday, November 3, 1950

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He analyzes well today
My own mistakes of yesterday:
“I’d not have done it quite that way-
A little more or lees, I’d say,
Would Just have seen that problem through.”
(I know this chap, and so do you.)
Small credit ought to go to him
Who tells with fresh and eager vim,
When things are written off and done,
About the battle he’d have won.
And he’ll be watched more closely than
His self-effacing fellow-man,
To see if he shall stand or fall
When his turn oomes to lug the ball.
He’ll make mistakes, as any man
Will make who does the best he can.
Don’t be too quick to criticize
That effort of the other guy’s,
For when our back’s against the wall
Things may look different, after all.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, July 18, 1945

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The things we desire and the things that we own
Are different, we learned in school;
The hoarder’s endeavor presents us the lone
Exception that proves the rule.

by Ray Romine Monday, July 2, 1945

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“Government officials deeply concerned over widespread undernourishment.” ….Headline.

So Uncle Sam is worried
About his nation’s health–
Well, now on points we’re hurried;
Before the wah ’twas-WEALTH.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, January 23, 1945

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“Men reporting for induction are being turned down in increasing numbers because of malnutrition.”
….Headline.

To him who in the love of Eating holds
Communion with her several times a day,
Our sympathy we give as he unfolds
His ration-book, his treasured points to pay.

They’ve tightened up our belts again,
And boosted up the points,
Except perhaps on kidneys
Or the innards or the joints;
So it’s bread witrout the butter,
And it’s stew without the broth–
(It does, of course, save wear and tear
On Mama’s table-cloth).

“So eat, that when thy summons comes to join
The Army, Navv, Air-corps, or Marines,
Thou’ll resemble something raised on Tenderloin,
And not on beef-less soup and ham-less beans.”

Oh, Ration-board and OPA,
We think you’re very sound,
Except on some suggestions
When you run them in the ground:
This advice is very cozy,
And we’d like to take it, too,
But for your own prize comeback, sirs:
“Just HOW is UP TO YOU!”

A toast to him who, notwithstanding, tries
His appetite to stifle; and I say
A special nod to him who satisfies
His conscience, stomach, points, and OPA !

by Ray Romine Monday, January 22, 1945

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How true it is that we who stay behind
Can find us useful too;
For there’s for each, if he is so inclined,
Real work at home to do.

Red Cross, Blood Bank, War Bonds, and war-jobs’ noise
Are vital, if the War
Be won for us; but I believe the Boys
Expect just one thing more

When they return: they want a Church still here,
And we must not neglect
God’s House, in spite of other work’s severe
Demands. Though, I expect,

Some are who feel “The Church must always be,
And so why worry now
In times like these?” But this is sophistry
For right to disavow.

That “God takes Care of His” is true enough,
But truer yet it is
That He will help the man who has the stuff
To make God’s business his!

A. Non Emous

by Ray Romine Sunday, September 19, 1943