Selections from Trella Romine's library at Terradise Nature Center
Ray Romine Poems
Why is it that Junior, at time to retire,
Has all the resolve of a never-say-dier
Who rounds up his interests and takes them to bed
Where they chase all the sleepiness out of his head?
So he kicks and he tosses and clamors for water,
(One fourth animation and three-quarters blotter)
And finally succumbs, at the promise of mayhem,
To fight just as hard to stay in bed come a.m.
by Ray Romine Sunday, September 4, 1949
A Hat?
Not That!
by Ray Romine Monday, February 12, 1945
Though they tell us now that sleeping
Is so healthy–in the nude,
I for one refuse to do it,
And it’s not that I’m a prude.
I have never worn pajamas,
But today I’m bound to try ’em
Since things have reached the pretty pass
Where I can’t beg or buy ’em!
by Ray Romine Thursday, October 3, 1946
Do you kick like heck when baby
Starts his medley in the night?
Do you rave and rant and cuss ’em
When the next door neighbors fight?
Do you give their son the a dickens
When at night his sax he toots?
Well, compared with rattling windows
These are pie, you bet your boots.
If there’s one thing sets me coo-koo
(You’ll agree with me, all right)
It’s that ghastly window rattling
Just as I doze off at night.
And I gripe so loud the neighbors
Waken from their slumber deep
To shout “why don’t you fix it,
So we ALL can get some sleep.”
by Ray Romine Thursday, January 12, 1933
Fire is reddest when it dies;
Purplest ones are storm-tossed skies;
One may find the bluest seas
Below the mainland, on the Keys.
Blackest is a man-made frown;
November has the drabbest brown;
Snow is whitest when we shiver;
Grass is greenest near a river–
The world is one kaleidoscope
Color splashed with rays of hope.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, April 28, 1953
Rain that falls darkly
Threatens the pane,
Opens old wounds
Over again.
Rain darkly falling,
Harried, pursued,
Matches astoundingly
My today’s mood.
But rain dropping darkly,
And mood, you are done.
Today was the low ebb:
Tomorrow, the sun.
by Ray Romine Sunday, October 21, 1951
They say “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
But try however many
Times to see, the window fogs,
And I cannot see any.
by Ray Romine Monday, January 12, 1953
Here comes the stuff that farmers pray for
Even though they can’t make hay for;
It demonstrates the smallest flaws of
Roofs; and games get called because of.
It forces girls to buy umbrellas
Or wait around on car-blessed fellas.
It dampens the most ardent wooer;
It makes blue Monday even bluer.
But on this day I have not panned
The rain. We had a picnic planned.
by Ray Romine Monday, September 1, 1952
Should Harry now find things transpiring
Against him, it’s not so inspiring
Reflecting, no doubt,
That he might turn out
An Ex-engineer who went firing.
by Ray Romine Friday, April 20, 1951
“Railroading” seems well on its way
For whom I should not like to say,
Unless maybe by dint
Of just whistling a hint:
“Acheson, Topeka and the Santa Fe.”
by Ray Romine Thursday, November 30, 1950