Category: Holidays

Over the river and through the park
To grandmother’s house we go;
The car knows the way, and quite well it may,
Since we go there too often, we know.

For grandmother’s meals are a symphony,
And grandmother’s pies are a treat
The delicatessen her labor doth lessen–
The bakery is just down the street).

Back out the jalopy; heigh ho and away!
Rouse the family from out of its stupor,
For this is the night of the Heavyweight fight–
And grandmother’s TV is super!

by Ray Romine Saturday, June 2, 1951

This year, the Joneses pause for thanks
With heads bowed low in pious ranks;
They’re glad their dinner’s what it am-
The Joneses have a can of Spam!

The Epsteins, they are thankful too–
They changed the day to red from blue
By finding, on the day Ma cleans,
An ancient can of pork-and-beans!

And so it goes: Thanksgivinp Day
Will find you saying it ain’t hay
To fall upon, with joyful whoop,
One smallish lonesome can of soup.

If one is poor, or has a bankful,
There’s occasion to be thankful–
Let every woman, child and man
Esteem and thank the lowly can!

by Ray Romine Thursday, October 10, 1946

I tote the tinsel to the attic,
Beaming, smiling, smug, ecstatic;
Quite more than I could take, I fear,
Were Christmas say two times a year.

by Ray Romine Sunday, December 17, 1950

The New Year has been introduced again
With proper fanfare and publicity.
I drop at last in sheer exhaustion, when
The revelers proceeding home have left to me
Besides a New Year with their gayest wishes,
The carcass of the old one with their dishes.

by Ray Romine Monday, January 1, 1951

“Whatever goes up
Must come down,”
My wife says, eying me,
Referring, of course,
This time of year,
To one used Christmas tree.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, December 27, 1950

It’s Christ mas a. m., and the gifts are unwrapped;
The kids have got games, and their father is trapped.
And out in the kitchen, who looks can find mother–
For her, any day is a lot like another.
(Except for her smile with that heavenly trace–
“God Bless you, dear family” all over her face)

by Ray Romine Monday, December 25, 1950

“Oh take me back to the good old days”
Is a plea you often hear.
I too am thinking of that right now–
Thanksgivinh time is near.

I’d like to sit at a Pilgrim board
(If it’s like the say it was)
And watch the turkey disappear–
Hear the conversation buzz.

For he had lots to be thankful for,
Our Pilgrim Father thought.
And when he shucked his corn that fall
His winter’s food was bought.

I think I’ll reconsider, though,
When I remember that
He drank his milk unpasteurized–
With an arrow through his hat!

by Ray Romine Sunday, January 1, 1933

It’s hard to wait till it gets dark
To see shoot up above the park
The colored lights that spread and hang,
Then go off with a sudden BANG!–
To watch the flashing red pinwheels
That shout to me with friendly squeals.
And so the 4th of each July
Is “Independence Day”–but why?
With all its noise and fun and light,
I’ll call it “Independence Night!”

by Ray Romine Tuesday, December 16, 1952

Do you recall when we were kids
And Christmas time drew near?
And how we believed that Santa Claus
Would call on us each year?

And how a month before the date
We thought of him alone,
And hoped he’d bring us toys and games
Down from the frigid zone?

And maybe Santa didn’t bring
The gifts we always got;
But something far more real than that
Each year he always brought.

For every year when we were kids
With Christmas drawing near,
‘Twas Santa’s Spirit, then that brought
The happiness and cheer!

by Ray Romine Wednesday, February 21, 1934

When I was young I thought St. Nick
Would never come to town.
I thought that Christmas time should come
Each week the whole year ’round.

But now it’s just the other way–
When shopping time is near
I sometimes think that Christmas comes
Enough–just ONCE A YEAR!

by Ray Romine Friday, December 1, 1933