Category: Poems

Ray Romine Poems

Posted on by

In A Dentist’s Chair

What buildings are they there across the way,
The tops of them alone exposed to view?
I turned some corners climbing here today,
And bade the old habitual things adieu:
No thing I know to greet my sense–I’m lost!
No help to aid my eye, tell south from north;
Until, upon the darkened sky embossed,
I see, as though by giant hand held forth–
The tower of my own familiar church!
I thrill down deep at symbolism here:
That Christ should reach a one in this strange perch
Again to show that He is always near!
The buildings now I know–and this event
Has taught its lesson, and I am content.

Fin. 12-1-43, and actually
started 11-29, sitting in a
Dentist’s Chair!

by Ray Romine Wednesday, December 1, 1943

Posted on by

Immortality

These flowers threatened by the frost–
I hate to see them go.
I may not be around next spring,
For all I know.

Yet, should it happen I am not,
The flowers will return.
So might I too,
If just a few
Friends yearn.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 9, 1947

Posted on by

Immaterial

His knowledge of Wages and Prices
While not strong, for John Public suffices-
With or without controls,
He knows his dough rolls
Away from him fast in huge slices.

by Ray Romine Friday, November 17, 1950

Posted on by

Imma-Chewer

Daughter’s learning how to chew
With silent mouth, as grown-ups do.
She has her battle nearly won,
But eating isn’t half the fun!

by Ray Romine Thursday, November 3, 1949

Posted on by

Illegitimacy

If there is something you can’t control,
Condone it!
If there’s a law that restricts your sould,
Disown it.

For marriage now is an old fashioned thing,
A relic;
Replace it with “Let’s you and I have a fling–“
(Angelic?)

If you’ve a sin which has been your goal,
Go to it–
You’d like to upset the gold-fish bowl?
Why, DO it!

If any sin gets beyond our reach–
(Let’s face it:)
Will God stand by and see us each
Embrace it?

You can dress it up in a fancy name
That’s tony–
However slicked, it is staill the same
Baloney.

No some think freedom and liberty
Mean unrestricted license for you and me;

But, if you don’t mind, I fear that I
Will stay thew same old-fashioned guy.

by Ray Romine Sunday, January 16, 1944

Posted on by

Ill? No, I’m Merely Starving

I’d as leave be surrounded
By Hades’ own hinges
As to swallow confounded
Gulps of oringes.

I’d rather go gaily
From my little group
Than be dieted daily
On nothing but soup.

When I am nice
They fetch a custard,
Or some sort of ice
Resembling mustard.

Or, having surrendered
And played a martyr,
I may be tendered
A sip of wartyr.

Look, Doc–man alive this
Is not to be rude,
But I’ll never survive this
Unless I have food!

by Ray Romine Saturday, February 24, 1945

Posted on by

Ignition System

You’ll never feel too old yourself
If you’ve a pint-size Junior elf
Who romps and plays and looks and asks
And lightens all the prosaic tasks;
A four-star general to whom
No charger’s finer than your broom;
Whose small imagination rare
Finds thrills and romance everywhere;
Who gets you out into the sun
And makes you re-aware of fun.
When home as a concern is slow,
A boy’s the spark that makes it go.

by Ray Romine Saturday, February 16, 1952