Category: Children

When father says “Pick up some cute little thing
For Junior,” it won’t hurt me any
To shop, but it’s just that that first picking-up
Is but the forerunner of many!

by Ray Romine Sunday, January 27, 1952

Will such artistic genius
Inevitably taper
When you are old enough to meet with,
Properly, blank paper?

by Ray Romine Sunday, August 19, 1951

Lost in a forest of fire-plugs,
Taxis for scenery;
Reared with thugs, in a maze of mugs,
In the shade of a beanery;
Left on his owm, without pity,
To get by as best he can,
This wild child of the city
Is expected to be a man!

by Ray Romine Saturday, August 25, 1951

Like baked beans and picnics,
Like sun-tans and summer;
Like mail men and statements,
Like bathroom and plumber;
Like raincoats and boots go
With inclement weather–
Small boys and puppies
Go well together!

by Ray Romine Wednesday, October 24, 1951

Parents should provide small boys
With the more instructive toys:
Blocks and logs for little ones;
Later, tanks and planes and guns;
Power shovels, tractors, cranes,
Autos and electric trains,
Paints to splash and daub and gild;
Tool chests with which to build;
Hoes and rakes designed to harden
Any softness toward the garden.
Little boys, then, maybe wouldn’t
Get into the things they shouldn’t.
(Sounds nice, but who must be shown
Has a couple of his own!)

by Ray Romine Wednesday, October 24, 1951

When her boy crawls upon my clothes,
Or kicks me in the shins,
Or beats his drum, or yells “How Come?”
At all my double chins,
His mother never fails to ask,
“He isn’t any bother?”
For Junior’s sake (still–it’s my break!)
I’m glad I’m not his father.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, October 15, 1946

Sometimes our children’s ways are not
Ideal, but parents, on the spot;
Can shout this question loud and far:
Exactly just whose kiddies’ are?

by Ray Romine Friday, September 15, 1950

Daughter’s books take up one chair;
The evening paper’s also there;
Daughter’s skirts, all freshly pressed,
Use the davenport to rest;
Daughter’s bobby pins and comb
Call the coffee-table home;
The desk peeks out; it coyly totes
Daughter’s hat and several coats.
Last but far from least, herself
Sprawls upon the window shelf.
Be-jeaned, agrin, and freckle-spattered,
Daughter is a little scattered!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 16, 1952

Please note his perfect posture;
The careful way he stands.
He’s almost all attention,
And rigid are his hands.

He sniffs the air alertly–
Is THIS my rowdy scoffer?
But yes–his TV program
Is making some new offer.

by Ray Romine Saturday, May 24, 1952

As baby decorates the rug
With milk or goo or giblet,
Or lets egg cool that it may drool
All down his precious biblet,
One wonders how we ever know
His appetite is sated;
To help decide if food’s inside
A gauge seems indicated!

by Ray Romine Thursday, October 3, 1946