Category: Neighbors

He mows his lawn when I am wont to nap,
Or picks that moment for a family scrap.
His lot is large, yet where he ties his pup
The dog’s in MY house if my window’s up.
His television and his radio
May only play at LOUD, for all I know.
When his son’s grades by one iota mount,
The neighbors get a play-by-play account.
Repairwork? If he has a nail to drive
The entire town’s aware he is alive.
I hear him whistle nightly, sad, off-key,
Putting his car away at half-past three.
Grownups may be less troublesome than boys,
But some contain the same amount of noise!

by Ray Romine Friday, February 1, 1952

0 Hound that bays obeisance to the moon,
I would suggest, if you will pardon me,
You do your talking to the sun at noon,
Or else prepare for living dangerously.
Laugh at my markmanship? Best save your breath–
At this range I can SCARE you half to death

by Ray Romine Tuesday, October 16, 1951

We race the Joneses,
Cent for cent,
Which leaves both houses
Rather spent.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, June 13, 1950

The Joneses purchase something new:
Our house has to have one too .
I pray, as gulps of pride I swallow,
To lead someday, and let them follow.

by Ray Romine Sunday, April 2, 1950

It is a wonderful feeling to walk down the street
And have something in common with each man we meet…

There Is Pet (he’s the one who has Wall Street outsmarted;
When he went into business I helped him get started.)

Hi, Ed (he’s the owner of that panel truck,
The one I shoved last March when he had her stuck.)

Well, Bill! (That’s the boy with hard luck in his past–
He owes me a twenty from year before last.)

‘Lo, Herb ( I recall how I loudly admired him
At a time when his boss otherwise would have fired him.)

And Steven (who swore he would travel, and did.
When he went to Alaska we took in his kid.)

But suddenly life has lost much of its flavor,
For here comes old Joe, to whom I owe a favor!

by Ray Romine Friday, February 5, 1954

The Joneses break out something new:
Our house has to have one too.
We always keep up with the Jones’–
Right to their debts and bills and loans.

Alt: Right to their bills and debts and loanses,
We always keep up with the Joneses.

by Ray Romine Sunday, April 2, 1950