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Bird-watching, Brief Dissertation On

That bird I’m sure I do not know
Turns out, of course, to be a crow.

What’s that that’s brown–wings long and narrow?
Exasperating. English sparrow.

Down there! The water-bird! Oh, shucks.
Mallard. Most plentiful of ducks.

And that one with the purple back’ll
Turn out in time to be a grackle.

Keep looking sharp, and what has wings
Turns out the commonest of things;

But fail just once–avert your eyes–
And miss the rarest thing that flies!

by Ray Romine Saturday, October 13, 1951

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Bird Note

My next door neighbor yearly spends
Some sum attracting feathered friends,
While I, with seed, expecting grasses,
Attract his doggoned birds in masses.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 25, 1951

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Bigger Game

My neighbor doesn’t like my dog-
And states the fact with vim.
In turn I do not hate his dog,
But I’m less fond of him:

8-18-49d
(Rev. 7-20-51)

by Ray Romine Thursday, August 18, 1949

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Big Job

I have a little tractor
Painted very red;
I always used to walk to play–
Now I ride instead.

Daddy says it’s somewhat light
To do much work, but Gee,
I think it’s doing quite a lot
To haul just me!

by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 22, 1953

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Bicycle, Maybe?

Since traffic jams are what they are,
I sold my antiquated car,
To ride the busses, which I hate;
They’re crowded, smoke-filled, jolting, late.
But taxis now require a buck,
And I hate walking. Look who’s stuck.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, July 11, 1951

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Beware The Cure

We’re told there are a lot of ways
To rest, and free oneself
From tension, worry–these fast days,
And so stay off the shelf.

I’ve tried them all with little gain,
Which prompts me to confess
It takes, to conquer stress and strain,
Too much of strain and stress.

by Ray Romine Friday, July 11, 1952

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Better Never Than Late

“How foolish you were,” brings on me
Gales of silent laughter.
How worthwhile such advice would be
Before, instead of after.

or:

“How foolish that was,” said to me
Meets with silent laughter.
How sage such sound advice would be
Before, instead of after.

by Ray Romine Friday, October 12, 1945

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Bequeathal

God gave His Spirit, guised as trees,
For steps for man’s long climb upgrade:
For homes, for hearth, for ships, for shade,
For inspiration more than these.

by Ray Romine Thursday, November 15, 1951