Category: Poems

Ray Romine Poems

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Lines Inspired By A Fellow Worker’s Going Back ToSchool

Bobby’s off to college–so is sister Ann;
Bobby to play football–sis to catch a man.

Bobby wents a frat pin: Ann could use one, too;
She will hook her frat pin–rolling eyes of blue.

Of course, there’s education, dished out on the side;
No one takes it serious–they learn the ways to slide.

Then whet ‘s the good of college to Bob and sister Ann?
Why, teach them how to chisel everyone they can.

But the gem of biggest import to Ann and brother oaf:
Dad and college give them four more years to loaf!

by Ray Romine Monday, September 7, 1936

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Lines In Favor Of Sour-graping

My friends never fail any ladder to scale
Where Success is attractively rosy;
But I mke the crack, as I crawl and slide back:
It’s lonesome down here , but it’s cozy!

Oh, I wonder, sometimes, as I rest between climbs,
What it’s like there with Jonesy and Smitty–
But I like a view that distence adds to,
And the heights from down here are so pretty!

Though I’m broken and bent, I am (perforce) content
With the dictum that I’ll never make it.
(Of course, if Success ever says to me, “Yes,”
More than likely I’ll break down and take it)

If, though, kind sirs, my philosophy stirs,
In the meantime, your own indignation,
Till the day I “arrive”, please do not deprive
A failure* of his consolation!

*Success or not, don’t let author spoof you: he was paid for this verse (at least) at Uncle Sam’s hourly rate – -every blarsted word of it!

by Ray Romine Saturday, October 12, 1946

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Lines I With Tongue Somewhat In Cheek, To The Family Dr.

I find when I am feeling spent
And hardly what you’d term a prize,
That some MD, with a gander at me,
Concludes that I need exercise.

But when I’m fine to excellent,
With every muscle crammed with zest,
He frowns at my vim, reverses him,
And tells me what I need is rest?

The net result? What could be surer?
I’m miserable, and ten bucks poorer.

by Ray Romine Saturday, May 5, 1951