Category: Poems

Ray Romine Poems

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Give Me A Snow I Can Bank On

Some fellow acquaintances work up a glow
Of honest excitement at autumn’s first snow.
My own super-charge, though, is never a vast one,
When it comes on to snow, if it isn’t the last one.
And at even the last snow my fervor rings hollow
Since who can be sure that just one more won’t follow?

by Ray Romine Friday, February 8, 1952

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Give Him A For Effort

Hail-fellow-well-met is our host for tonight;
His parties are boisterous, often, and roaring.
He’s charming, he’s witty, he’s handsome, he’s bright;
He’s clever, vivacious, resourceful–and boring.

by Ray Romine Thursday, August 31, 1950

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Gargling

The doctor said to gargle,
So it’s trying to I’ll be.
And if you hear strange noises
From the bathroom–Why that’s me.

I could never learn to gargle
And I’ve tried so many times–
Yet I down the darndest messes
And take pills as large as dimes.

But gargling seems to get me;
I don’t know the reason why.
Still, the doctor said to gargle,
So I’d better go and try.

by Ray Romine Sunday, January 1, 1933

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Gardening Gusto?

I find my gardening enthusiasm
Survived that early seed-ordering spasm
Beautifully, but now it’s fading
That the time is here for spading.
Consequently, I am knowing
There won’t be ANY left for hoeing!

by Ray Romine Wednesday, March 27, 1946

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Gardener’s Supplication, Or Hey-day Of May-day

All winter long I prayed, 0 Lord,
I dodged would be by local board;
But I the draft no longer fear–
We’re gardening, Victory style, this year.

We soil’ve spaded, raked it fine
And sown the seed of plant and vine;
So wet ’twill be that swim things will,
Or dry, and tease the water-bill.

We’ll chase the bugs next door to Gus,
Who’ll later shoo ’em back to us.
We’ll pull up plant and leave the weed–
Then gently help it go to seed.

Our hands’ll blister, spines will crack;
There’ll be protestations from our back,
And remonstrations by our knees,–
We’ll fight the fight in spite of these.

Carry on for old Nutrition!
‘Tis the height of all ambition.
Mid-July may see us able
To lay a radish on the table.

So, take me, army, while I can
Still pass, perhaps, for half a man;
If march I must, to drum and fife,
Please take me NOW, and save a life.

‘Fore body folds and mind goes slurshy,
You’d better hurry, General Hershey!

by Ray Romine Thursday, April 8, 1943