Category: Conversation

You state your side,
And I’ll state mine;
No fighting, no abuse.
But I’ll impart,
Before we start,
I Know whose side I’ll choose.

by Ray Romine Thursday, January 25, 1951

“How quiet you are.” Now when this
Comes from my wife, I realize
How wide awake she is to miss
My usual word slipped in edgewise!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 22, 1950

Those streamlined barbs of yours to which
I do not seem to cater:
They really are much sharper, far,
When I re-use them later.

by Ray Romine Saturday, October 13, 1951

No, the speaker isn’t balking:
His expression “No use talking”
Adds to all his conversation
Just a lot of punctuation.

by Ray Romine Monday, September 12, 1949

I vote that this expression
Be abolished neatly:
“Not to change the subject–“
Thereby changing it oompletely.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 8, 1950

Easy, my friend,
While there’s some chance of stopping it,
Or the rest of the evening
May be spent in topping it.

by Ray Romine Saturday, February 9, 1952

While controversy rages
And arguments abound,
So long as I’m delivering
I love to stick around.

But should the tide of battle
Turn, and I’m receiving,
It’s then you’re apt to see me
Use the door for leaving.

Before you brand me coward,
And from invitations strike me,
I beg you to recall the
Million others like me

Who, while Quite unproud of
Being back-door users,
Can, by dodging swiftly,
Keep from being losers.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, January 24, 1951

The chap who shouts to win an argument
Should really be shown the light:
a point proclaimed in manner reverent– – DON’T ARGUE! —I KNOW I’M RIGHT!!

by Ray Romine Sunday, May 13, 1945

No matter how indolent I may be feeling,
Nor how pressed for time when spare moments are fleeting,
I’m not in much danger, I think, of congealing:
My mouthparts get exercise talking and eating…

by Ray Romine Monday, June 4, 1951

He who can learn to say it briefly
Will get results, among them chiefly:
He’ll be regarded as alert,
Intelligent, a wit–and curt.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, April 24, 1951