Selections from Trella Romine's library at Terradise Nature Center
Ray Romine Poems
Free as the wind is this newly-won freedom;
Free as the waves tossed ahead to the shore;
“Free!” sings the chorus, and each of the verses,
Freedom undreamed of and unknown before!
Fate, though, is chuckling–must Fate ever titter?
Free as the wind can be fully as bitter.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 21, 1951
I think November has the edge
On other months. Forget the hedge;
All sign of garden work is gone;
Coil up the hose, ignore the lawn;
A pox on trees; neglect the vines;
Nor note the spading fork has tines.
And please recall, while we ‘re abolishing,
It’s much too cold for auto polishing.
The picnic table’s come to lodge
Folded up, in our garage;
The outdoor fireplace, from here,
Must stand unfired almost a year;
And where, one asks in faint surprise,
Are those mosquitoes, gnats and flies?
Give me a chair drawn near the fire
And I’ll relax. But I’m a liar- –
What spoils contentment’s perfect cup?
There’s Christmas shopping coming up.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, July 4, 1950
A friend I think beyond compare,
And worthy of citation,
Who calls my blank and puzzled stare
A “frown of concentration.”
by Ray Romine Monday, February 19, 1951
Your eyes are like hand-painted china;
Old gold is spun into your hair;
You’ve a skin that’s as fair as old ivory;
You’ve the grace of a Chippendale chair!
“Sir Galahsd, here is your head-piece;
Better leave while you’re able to speak–
I’d a whole lot rather you found me
Less lovely, than just an ANTIQUE!
by Ray Romine Monday, February 21, 1944
“The fee is nominal,” this phrase
Brings back the olden, golden days.
The difficulty seems to be
Today, the nominal is phe-.
by Ray Romine Saturday, October 27, 1951
Watch him cut a crimson gash
Through the summer with his dash.
Bird habits are sometimes surprising:
The cardinal’s is advertising!
by Ray Romine Tuesday, December 9, 1952
As for prize-winning babies, it seems to me
Even the judges can’t agree.
But when YOUR child gives with smile or coo,
That’s all the convincing it takes for you!
by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 5, 1950
Our daughter bawls like a calf in clover
If her mother serves anything warmed over.
When she’s acquired her own small brood
Will she still kick about second-time food,
Or, when kitchen sweat on her forehead glistens,
Will HER tots squawk the while SHE listens?
It seems to be true, regarding eating,
That history WON’T stand re-heating!
by Ray Romine Monday, November 14, 1949
The barber sighs, and a whisk of his broom
Adds to the hair about the room.
With a final dab at the tear-stained eyes
Of his newest customer, Junior- Size,
He helps him down without further ado.
Realizing he’s just gone through
His first ordeal, the little laddie
Is glad it’s over- -and so is daddy!
by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 20, 1949
We bid him Be A Good Boy; Study; and
Be Nearly Perfect. On the other hand,
Learn Sportmanship; Have Fun ; Don’t Give a Hang
When Things Go Wrong; and Be One of the Gang .
It’s evident we haven’t, up to now,
Explained to our small seven-year old how
A fellow can behave himself and get
His lessons, and still not be Teacher’s Pet!
by Ray Romine Thursday, January 17, 1952