Category: Poems

Ray Romine Poems

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On Again, Doff Again

Ever since mankind has reckoned
Laundered socks as standard wear,
The hole is always in the second
One put on of every pair.

8-19-49a
(Rev. 11-12-49)

by Ray Romine Friday, August 19, 1949

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Omit Flowers

Sing to me of life and laughter,
Save the tears til I am gone;
Let me smile while I am able:
Crying may come later on.

While the sun shines, let me have it;
Let me eat while there is food;
Make the most of every moment,
Squeeze the fun from every mood.

Read to me from tomes of gladness;
Keep my pleasures cheerful, gay:
Take your tragedies–I loathe them.
(Some @%##!! author bawled for pay)

Let me live carefree and happy
These few years, and when I die,
As they shovel clods down on me,
I’ll be laughing, so- – -DON’T CRY!

by Ray Romine Saturday, July 27, 1946

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Old-Age Retirement

Some go to bed to dine, or sup,
While some retire to keep
Their books, or knit; but I admit
I go to bed to sleep.

Still others take their books, and read
Of Wretched Things that creep.
I want no screams to rend my dreams:
I lay me down to sleep.

Abnormal, me? A little crazy?
I favor this theory: just plain lazy.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, August 17, 1949

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Old Story

Let us continue to handle us
Like humans, in spite of the vandalous
Way some of our Tax-men
Have turned into axe-men–
For when WEREN’T our taxes scandalous?

by Ray Romine Friday, November 16, 1951

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Oh For An Able Table!

I’m darned if I’m contented
With the tables they’ve invented–
Oh some, of course, are beauties,
But they’re shirking in their duties
When there is no room beneath ’em for MY FEET.

Though my Elevens may be prizes,
Feet come in assorted sizes;
And I claim a decent table
Should be willing, yea, and able
To accomodate my tootsies WHILE I EAT.

In the store we drool, and love ’em
For the ample room above ’em;
But you’ll find they’re cramped below ’em
When you get one of ’em hoem,
If you sit, and try to swallow bread and meat.

Now the moral of my story:
If you’d cover you with glory,
Lift the ordinary table
From the mire–
Build it bigger, build a master,
Build it wider, build it vaster;
Even though you build it gloomier,
Build it healthy build it roomier–
So us guys (with feet) to food can get us nigher!

–P.S.–
As a guy in 1-A, though I’m glad I’m around
Using ANY OLD TABLE instead of the GROUND!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, March 28, 1944

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Often Repeated, But Seldom Believed?

The world may say what the world may say;
I will say “I love you.”
From dawn to dusk of every day,
I will say “I love you.”

Monotonous may be my tune;
I do not care, for, late or soon,
While I have breath, you’ll hear me croon:
“I love you.”

My conversation, so I find,
Reflects whotever I’ve in mind
(Usually, “I love you.”)
You are the subject I enjoy;
Yours the name I shall employ
When I say “I love you.”

by Ray Romine Tuesday, July 8, 1947