Selections from Trella Romine's library at Terradise Nature Center
Ray Romine Poems
When we walk at night,
I ask, “What is a star?”
And daddy explains to me
All of them are
Suns like our own sun
That shinee during day,
But MANY times larger.
And farther away.
Of course, I believe him;
Of course he is right;
But if he doesn’t mind
I’ll go on every night
Pretending they’re fireflies!
With daddy’s star lore,
I think I feel littler
Than ever before.
by Ray Romine Sunday, February 3, 1952
The wild bright moon emerges from the mist
And adds a color to the vivid autumn scene:
The day with all its reds and yellows turns a little green
On seeing night’s abnormal shadows silver-kissed.
The Screech Owl in the wood across the way
Sounds angry. He, disgusted with things bright,
And never having seen the darkness in this light,
Is sure he slept the clock around, and it is day.
Then it dawns on him slowly, and, shamefaced,
He turns his owlish scowling onto man,
That perverse daylight-loving dolt who can
Sit in his home and let illumination waste.
by Ray Romine Monday, October 15, 1951
Some mark he ‘ll make upon his world,
Will father’s blue-eyed bub,
Just Judging from the grade of that
He leaves {within} {around} the tub.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, November 7, 1950
If dreams do reveal our subconscious
(A true enough statement, I guess)
From the stuff that I dream
It would certainly seem
That I’m not so much man as I’m messJ
by Ray Romine Thursday, June 11, 1953
Into this question let us delve:
As to why myself, let’s say,
So full of pep last night at twelve
Can be so tired today.
by Ray Romine Sunday, August 6, 1950
I vote that this expression
Be abolished neatly:
“Not to change the subject–“
Thereby changing it oompletely.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 8, 1950
I am afraid I shun the news
And even editorial views
On subsidies, on strikes, and on atomics;
And I skip the page of fads,
Ruffling quickly through the ads
To stop at what I understand–the comics.
by Ray Romine Friday, June 23, 1950
You soon won’t be able to tell at a glance
Whether they are or are not wearing pance.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, October 22, 1946
Now that the MacArthur saga
Has the country practically gaga,
One must look for HT
Back on page Three
With the market reports from Chi-caga!
by Ray Romine Friday, April 20, 1951
Newsitem: Under this new set-up, Selective Service Officials said today, the only grounds for exemption of fathers whose numbers come up, would be physical unfitness, occupational reasons, or “extreme-hardship” cases. Apparently those with investments, or money in the bank would be at a disadvantage.
“As ye sow so shall ye reap”,
Is an adage I’ve defended;
But now, the dough I tried to keep
I wish, by damn, I’d spended.
(or,)
“As ye sow shall ye reap”.
Has seen me quite contented:
But now the pelf I’ve slugged to keep–
O HOW I wish I’d spented!
by Ray Romine Thursday, August 12, 1943