The woman, normally sincere,
Can’t have her whole heart in it
Who says “Just keep it running, dear,
I’ll only be a minute.”
by Ray Romine Friday, June 8, 1951
Category: Poems
Ray Romine Poems
Some Slight Accord
On those too-rare occasions when I pause
And see and listen just beyond the whirl
Of dollar-chasing, or “amusement’s” hectic swirl,
I know that our philosophers have cause
To feel we are descending to the jaws
Of utter crassness. It makes my hair curl
The way we cannot grasp the splendid pearl
Of melody–this earth, despite its flaws.
God, make me look, and let me, looking, love
The smallest flower to bloom in early spring;
The star that flickers winter nights above
Me; fireflies that summer evenings bring.
When I can’t find the time to learn the song,
God grant me strength at least, to hum along.
by Ray Romine Monday, January 7, 1952
Some Lines, Not So Affectionate, to a Ten-Year-Old Boy
The condition in which you leave the bathtub
Inspires in me considerable wrath, bub.
by Ray Romine Thursday, December 14, 1950
Some Good Shall From The Evil Grow
Although this earth is torn apart today,
And greed already threatens post-war peace
Because no man will one small whit decrease
His aim at things that help his selfish way;
In spite of moral lapse and thought decay
That cry out to us, “Wars will never cease”,
Our country has a sort of doubtful lease
On something better through Thanksgiving Day.
For what is needed more in our world now
Than just a bit of faith; of seeking God,
(If only for a day); of giving thanks
For what we have? The Pilgrim showed us how
To look above the earth we dully plod,
And find alliance with the Angels’ ranks.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 26, 1944
Some Few Do
“Know what I think?” he said, which brought
Me to a mental skid;
For, far from knowing what he thought,
I didn’t know he did!
by Ray Romine Sunday, October 28, 1945
Some Arm
“Just a stone’s throw from the station”.
As I count the miles, I groan.
How I’d view with consternation
That huge chap who tossed the stone!
{alternate}
Barnum could have milked the nation
With the lad who tossed that stone!
by Ray Romine Tuesday, May 1, 1945
Solidified
I buy each new book that tells how
To win either friends or success,
Yet most of my gain, up to now,
Has been added books, more or less.
For all of them advocate Change,
Just as easy as buying a hat;
And somehow I can’t get the range:
I’m me, and that seems to be that!
by Ray Romine Thursday, October 18, 1951
Solid. He Says
The Yankees like their coffee, and
The English love their tea,
But I don’t care for anything,
Which makes a freak of me.
The Germans like some wine with meals,
I’m fond of none of these.
In answer to “What will you drink?”
I answer, “Nothing, please.
“Just serve me spuds and lemon pie,
Some gravy, beans, and meat,
And understand please, if you can,
That when I eat, it’s NEAT!”
by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 11, 1951
Solid!
Much hinges on the way that we
Define the term “peace-love.”
Most of us love peace in the world,
But Josef loves “piece of!”
by Ray Romine Friday, August 24, 1951
Solicitude
Be careful when you step, my dear;
Be careful how you drive;
You’re worth two thousand dead, my dear,
But I want you alive.
So easy with that ladder, dear;
And easy with that Jive:
Although you’d make a pretty corpse,
You’re prettier alive!
by Ray Romine Thursday, October 17, 1946