Whatever does he see in her,
Or she in him? Yet, I aver
It is as plain, it just could be,
As whatever somebody sees in me.
by Ray Romine Sunday, February 18, 1951
Author: Ray Romine
As If I Didn ‘t Know
Sometimes there’s a thought native caution invokes
When I’m witty as I can be:
Do I sound half as empty to other folks
As other folks sound to me??
by Ray Romine Monday, May 21, 1945
Artist’s Life
Now when I began on this drawing stuff
I was only a wee small pup.
What a shame my pop with his razor strop
Didn’t wham me ’til I woke up.
Yes, the art was bad–still you couldn’t blame dad
For not halting me then, in time;
For he no doubt thought I’d amount to aught
As an artist along some line.
And I might have too, now I’m telling you
But for one thing that reared its head.
‘Twas the ugly curse of this writing verse–
NEED THERE ANYTHING ELSE BE SAID?
by Ray Romine Saturday, May 20, 1933
Art Museum
Try as I will,
I am somehow obsessed by
The thought I ignore what
I should be impressed by
by Ray Romine Tuesday, June 15, 1954
Are You Watering At The Mouth? Meatoo!
I walked dovm to the butcher shop
And almost got the shakes
To see the prices hung upon
The chops and roasts and steaks .
So, when the butcher, smiling, asked:
“Which would you like to cook?”
I said, “Thanks. I’ve 5 dollars, chum–
All I can do is look!”
by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 7, 1951
Are You A Friend Or Aren’t You?
I’m the type who, while stating with gusto his creed,
Stands firmly by and defends it,
Until I encounter one who is agreed,
Which takes out the sport, and that ends it.
So a favor, dear friend: overlook my insistence,
And let there be nothing passive about your resistance!
by Ray Romine Friday, August 29, 1952
Aquarium Specimen
The fish relieves the daytime tedium
Cavorting in a liquid medium.
Disparage if you will the fish,
At meal time he is quite a dish–
But not too much so to his Mrs.
Who gurgles at him soggy hisses,
For I have gathered, from my reading,
His tardy marks are all for breeding.
“Poor fish” my eye–let’s not pretend:
He has a fin or two to spend!
Carefully, away he sails,
Balancing, no doubt, his scales.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, November 13, 1951
Apropos Of Ping-pong
Chaplains’ assistants
Have lotsa persistence!
by Ray Romine Thursday, October 7, 1943
April Well-wisher
Don’t think that cynicism
Has me too well immersed
When I say the buds are swelling,
And I hope they burst!
by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 9, 1952
April Initiation
Questioning, curious, he wanted to help,
So she let him space tiny seeds
In their furrows. “Pat gently; we’ll water them well,
And later on look out for weeds.
“Then one day the flower will riot and bloom
So that butterfly, bird-friend, and bee
Will visit our garden to dance and to sing,
And surely they’ll thank you and me.”
But much more than flowers they planted this day,
As mother well knew from the start;
For who can predict what in future may grow
From the seed gently placed in his heart?
by Ray Romine Saturday, April 7, 1951