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Dearer Mirror

I have a crow, or bone, or something, whatever it is they pick, to pick
With a designer whose finished product I’m allergic to, if it doesn’t actually make me sick.

And I’ve held in so long, I can’t help blabbin’ it–
It concerns the guy who drew the plans for my medicine cabinet.

Now, inside, it may well enough be a work of art, with room for shaving cream, toothpaste, and mercurochrome;
Oh yes, within, it is something to which a man might conceivably hurrihome.

And it’s placed flush with the wall, too, or nearly enough so I can glibly remark:
You can negotiate safely past it, even in the dark.

The mirror on the front, outside, will disclose a goodly portion
Of my 2pleasing countenance with almost no distortion;

BUT–right there in that phrase “goodly portion” lies, as some eminent Shakespearean character said, aye, the rub–
For that is where my designing friend flubbed his dub,

Inasmuch as I appear to be wearing a wreath on my head, like a
fugitive from the Roman era,
Due to the craftsman’s having etched this aforesaid wreath firmly and irrevocably into the mera.

I suppose I should feel flattered, looking like Caesar, as Caesar was ambitious;
But I’m not the type to glide easily from my ittle bed, shave,
and dash off–only to dash back at night, eager to help the wife do the supper ditious.

And, since I am not of the steel that will not turn in the hand,
I do not like to have to gander at myself wearing a Roman wreath
Everytime I groggily shave, or even blearily brush my teeth;

But my wife has taken a fancy to the whole set-up, since she is from six inches to a foot shorter than I, so, to please her,
I’ll Just go on like this, I guess, resembling Julius Caesar

……………..

Under my breath, though, doubtlessly I’ll mutter:
“Let’s see, now, Just where, I wonder, did I mislay that most excellent glass-cutter?…….

by Ray Romine Tuesday, March 28, 1944

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Dear Wife: It’s 4 A.M.

Say no more about it, darling;
It was, yes, my own mistake.
But your dreams still find you snarling–
While I’m lying here awake!

You had the lest word, and I shan’t try to beat it;
So you don’t need, my love, in your sleep to repeat it.

by Ray Romine Monday, February 19, 1945

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Dear Editor:

For years I’ve penned this stuff, and hoped,
Since enterprise was free,
I’d someday see a juicy check–
I mean from you to me.

You could have told me long ago
(The humane thing to do)
That all the checks I can expect
I’LL WRITE, from me to you!

Yes, poetry has many things
That make the world indict it–
But this should wash it up for good:
To HAVE TO PAY to WRITE IT!!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 1, 1944

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Dear Departed

Philosophers will always sing
That money doesn’t mean a thing
Unless one spends it. Whereupon
One misses it. Too late–it’s gone.

by Ray Romine Thursday, May 18, 1950

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Dear Boss : Take A Letter

You came in late this morning:
Was that gin upon your breath?
You breathed at Nancy Lou, and
Nearly scared the girl to death.

You’ve done no work to speak of:
You’ve but dawdled with your pen,
And punched holes in your blotter,
And refused to see some men.

All play, no work, remember,
Make a Jack that we detest;
But a boss who plays at nothing
Runs our Jack a second-best.

I found your desk in chaos–
Keep your feet, please, off the top–
Those trays were made for ashes:
This untidiness must stop!

You were gone too long at luncheon:
You’re allowed an hour, no more.
That tie you’re wearing’s lousy–
But we’ve been through this before.

Now, unless you show improvement,
Sir, our gain will be your loss:
Though HELP is scarce as hen’s teeth,
I can always HIRE a BOSS!!

by Ray Romine Saturday, August 7, 1943

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Deaf Ear

Sleek young crooners moan of love,
Charm, and lips, and going steady.
Please don’t think I am above
Such things. I’m married up a’ready

by Ray Romine Tuesday, April 8, 1952

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Day Off

I meant to get things done–I really did–
But then that thrush would pick today to pour
His water-notes upon the air, and bid.
Me follow him to where the summer’s core
Lay everywhere about. We found nine-bark,
A yellow-breasted chat, and Queen Anne’s Lace;
Bob White, a wildw singing meadow-lark,
A field of wheat with ever-changing face,
Sun through an oak; and, in the roadside dust,
A butterfly I’d never seen before.
Till back at last it ended, as days must,
And, pausing with my hand upon the door,
I add it up. Here is the sum precisely:
I lived today; the work has kept quite nicely.

by Ray Romine Thursday, July 10, 1952

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Day Off

Here, in the sun-speckled woods today,
Where the moss carpet’s odor and damp bark smell
Distract from the trilliums’ display,
Springtime has woven the perfect spell.
It seeps to me slowly, through my pores.
On this day of days, when I take, not give,
Finding breathlessly new encores,
I hope nobody minds if I just want to live…

by Ray Romine Saturday, January 13, 1951

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Day In March

Frogs pipe away the last March freeze;
A puddle slakes awakened bees;
The eager sap climbs starving trees– ,
And spring returns by slow degrees.

by Ray Romine Monday, September 15, 1952