Author: Ray Romine

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Thistleshow Mistletoe Up

December, ‘neath the mistletoe,
She kissed me rather roundly;
I tried the thing again this spring:
She slapped me, slightly soundly.

Tell me, Miss Dix, if you know:
Have I slipped–or was it the mistletoe?

by Ray Romine Tuesday, May 1, 1945

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This, Of Course, Is Heresy

Please do not throw the busy bee
As an example, up to me.
So he who shows industry thrives–
I work enough; I’ve had the hives.

And then there is the sainted ant;
Admire her if you will–I can’t.
She slaves each day in rain or sun,
And someone else grabs all the fun.

This rebel correspondent begs
Your pardon–I don’t want 6 legs.
How vain, I wonder, can I be,
Who thinks the insects envy me?

by Ray Romine Friday, August 3, 1951

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This Pains Me

Please, I ask, don’t call the type
Of poetry(?) I dish out “tripe”.
I admit it’s somewhat mixey:
Voice of greatness, then of pixy;
There are times when I’ll cronfess
I regard it as a mess.
its origin may be, without
More ado, in gravest doubt;
It’s half-done, or over-ripe–
Okay then, the stuff IS tripe !

by Ray Romine Saturday, September 15, 1951

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This May Be A Little Premature!

Oh Army Life, of Thee I sing:
No shortages, no rationing;

Lots of prunes, and scads of beans ,
And plenty more behind-th’ scenes;

Lots of stuff they say is meat–
Not to name, but just to eat!

Clothes we see in plenty, too:
O.D. is the thing for you.

It may not match your hair and eyes,
But you look like all the other guys.

(And the color of your week-day undies
Resembles those you’ll wear on Sundays.)

Shoes we have, and where I’m stationed,
Footwear SIZES aren’t rationed.

The Manpower situation’s grand–
Crowds of halp on every hand.

POINT’s Just something it’s not polite to;
TOKEN’s what you’ve been when the dice do what dice do.

About the only place where we get a rimmin’,
The civilian has (and we ain’t got) women–

And many a veteran with experience behind ‘im
Says those can be had if you know where to find ’em.

Add it all up, and I think you’ll see
Why a civilian’s job looks TOUGH TO ME!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, April 4, 1944

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This Is Worth Fighting For

Some fight for family: some fight for home;
Some say they’re scrapping for downfall of Rome;
Some others look forward to Hitler’s demise;
Some think the glory enough of a prize;
Some are ambitious and want to slap Japs;
Others, still more so: they want to change maps;
Some fight for religion; some fight for right,
While some there are, even, who fight Just to fight.
What’s sauce for the gander is sauce for the geese:
The women are fighting, they maintain, for peace.
Some are who own cider-mills–they fight, I guess,
To uphold their apples, and freedom of PRESS!
Some don’t like the doctrines our enemies teach;
But ME–I’m a great one for FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

For where, but this country, when Presidents talk,
Can one shout back an answer, or raise heck, or squawk?
I like to beef when the beefing is good;
I like my crabbing as no human should.
I claim that my griping is good for the soul–
A safety-valve keeping America whole.

However we differ–down deep we’re all same:
We love this ol’ country without fear or shame.
I’ll fight for your reasons: for order and law;
Hardest I’ll fight, though, for FREEDOM OF JAW!

I really am grateful for free speech–you see,
My country thus puts up with POETS(?) LIKE ME!

by Ray Romine Sunday, June 20, 1943