Selections from Trella Romine's library at Terradise Nature Center
Ray Romine Poems
He who waits for inspiration
Or a sunny day
Ends him up in some small station
By the weed-grown way.
It’s the type who says “Let’s Do Itl”
Though he is but one,
Makes it look like nothing to it
While he Gets Things Done.
How nice to be Type One or Two–
I’m just between them–aren’t you?
by Ray Romine Tuesday, October 19, 1948
Two sides to an argument?
I quite agree;
But when will somebody
Go that far with me?
by Ray Romine Saturday, June 28, 1952
I like September’s sun and shade,
October’s brilliant cavalcade.
November brings an appetite;
December’s carols cheer the night.
And January has its snow;
In February, most hearts glow;
March sees crocuses again;
And April’s showers serve as rain.
The Iris splash with bloom in May,
And June is the month of the Perfect Day.
July’s the height of summertime.
Here’s August, and also end of the rhyme.
There’s fun to have, or so I’ve found,
In every month the whole year round.
Whatever set of conditions thrive,
It’s very good just to be alive!
by Ray Romine Wednesday, September 10, 1947
I love each quip that I let slip,
Til you someday repeat it;
Though I did bag that corny gag,
Must I ,– MUST I eat it?
by Ray Romine Wednesday, February 14, 1945
Why do they call it “free verse”, when it invariably costs a headache for author,
And anyone foolish enough to read it leaves himself wide
open to pain of one kind. or anauthor??
Then there’s the story of the Scot who dawdled into the
corner bookstore, and asked for a free verse volume;
The clerk kindly assured him only the Carnegie Library
carried that kind of verse, all serious-like and solume.
Surely enough, Just like any good story should turn out,
he found it in the Library,
Which should teach all good students of literature to be wary.
Especially of free verse.
In all the universe, no worse curse than free verse.
It’s poetry that failed to jell;
Or prose that’s mangled, hard to read, and sounds like a
word that with jell rhymes well.
Perverse, reverse verse!
Of all the dithery types of verse,
I hate free verse the merse.
It, I can scarce excuse:
I turn on it abuse.
I even curse
Free verse ……
by Ray Romine Tuesday, April 13, 1943
The bugs and birds are fine for spring;
I love trees in the fall.
But nature-study when it’s hot
Perhaps is best of all.
My interest in the Great Outdoors
In winter rather flops:
It moves with my thermometer
And, when it’s colder, drops,
Until, no matter how I’ve fought,
At zero it amounts to naught.
by Ray Romine Wednesday, November 21, 1951
“His report card is nothing to worry about–“
At least that’s what I, once recovered from shock, said,
For it’s the for-surest of ways to find out
That he’s merely a chip off the fatherly block-head!
by Ray Romine Tuesday, February 9, 1954
Exceptional? I am, a bit,
And further ready to admit
I’m brilliant, talented and witty,
Till asked to serve on your committee.
by Ray Romine Thursday, July 12, 1951
Just one of the things I had that went
With youth was a sort of natural bent
Toward work- -but I ‘m glad it’s lost, no joke ,
For with or without the bent, I’m broke!
by Ray Romine Thursday, December 21, 1950
The indifference I feel
Upon scanning “Who ‘s Who”
I shall no doubt conceal
When I’m in there, tool
by Ray Romine Monday, May 21, 1945