Category: Advertising

Try August for picnics; try August for sales.
The month is a tonic for whatever ails.
It’s easy to eat oneself into a stupor;
Try August’s tomatoes; her sweet corn is super.
August is heady and hard to resist;
She’s a maiden with lips pursed who waits to be kissed.
You’ve sampled the others: May, June and July–
Now give our brand, August, a bit of a try!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, May 13, 1952

I cannot love the too-frank ad
Which tells me that my breath is bad;
I hope commercials come to harm
Which bleat about my underarm–
And, also in this same connection,
A pox on who pans my complexion,
Teeth and gums and messy hair,
The shrinkage of my underwear,
The tame vacations that I choose,
The way I shave, my shineless shoes.
When will ad-men start realizing
“Ad” doesn’t symbolize advising?

by Ray Romine Saturday, August 18, 1951

“And now for a word from our sponsor–“
This is my cue when I look
In no uncertain fashion, with fervor and passion,
For a well-hidden corner, and book.

by Ray Romine Sunday, March 18, 1951

Though it make me the contrariest rascal unhung,
I like the commercials I can’t dodge unsung.

by Ray Romine Sunday, December 30, 1951

There may be some things we don’t know about words,
Such as which adjectives in the language are strongest,
Or which will endure; but we’re certainly sure
That the Word We Will Hear From Our Sponsor is longest!

by Ray Romine Sunday, March 18, 1951