Selections from Trella Romine's library at Terradise Nature Center
Ray Romine Poems
I bought ourselves a little car,
A pretty pink two-seater
Two-thirds alive, with over-drive,
A radio and heater.
I’ll take the Mrs. for a spin,
And though I hold the wheel
And push the clutch and shift the gears,
Who will be driving? We’ll.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 7, 1951
Like others just a bit remiss,
I can’t stand that word “prejudice”
Applied to this doggonedest love
I have for things I’m fondest of.
by Ray Romine Monday, August 21, 1950
I struggle and squeeze the car into
A spot I adjust the wheelbase to;
Trouble drips, and then it trickles:
Naturally I’m out of nickels.
I’ll pay the fine. I shop about,
Then trouble spurts. I can’t get out.
by Ray Romine Friday, August 18, 1950
Child-experts don’t see eye to eye:
Is the teacher to blame–or I?
I often wonder, while they preach:
It couldn’t be a bit of each?
by Ray Romine Thursday, September 29, 1949
Reams of poetry,
Lots of rhyme,
Fill a book:
It’s taken time,
Time that might’ve
Been better spent
Making wampum–
I’ve not a cent.
Still: I wonder–
When I go,
Which friends will remember:
Me, or dough?
by Ray Romine Saturday, October 30, 1943
I’m sure it was a huge success,
With food just short of Heaven;
But I couldn’t make it–flu, I guess-
I was in bed by seven.
I’m glad the speaker knew his etuff
(He came well recommended);
But friends dropped in and made me muff
The exit I’d intended.
I didn’t know which suit to wear;
I had to wash and set my hair;
I smashed a thumb;
I tore my shirt;
My tire was flat;
My arches hurt;
I had to work;
I broke a nail;
I helped a friend
Get out on bail;
And what we’d thought were harmless bumps,
Turned out on daughter to be mumps!
With all these tempting alibis
Conveniently before me,
Shall I, ignoring patent lies,
Just say, “These shindigs bore me”?
by Ray Romine Wednesday, May 2, 1945
Was it Mrs. Brown’s party?
(You called me a louse)
Or was I the smarty
Who painted your house?
Was it, by chance,
At the Country-club dance,
Or did we compare
Hog notes at the Fair?
One day at the ocean?
Were you waiting table?
Or–it’s Just a notion–
Could your name be Mable?
Did we trade places
That day at the races?
The drive-in? The flower-show?
A screened leafy bower? No?
NOTHING makes me feel any sillier
Than a face I can’t place that’s so downright familiar!
by Ray Romine Friday, September 7, 1951
Wouldn’t it be fun to know
What they’ll whisper when I go?
Will I be a “dandy chap”, or will they say “that
so and so”?
I assume they’ll send bouquets,
Or a card with pretty phrase–
Things they say, though, in their hearts is the illuminating phase.
Will I be remembered for
Being such a fussy bore,
Or a pessimist, whose troubles grow where nothing
grew before?
Will my friends recall the times
I have ridiculed, in rhymes,
All their faults and pennypinching? (I myself was
pinching dimes)
Will my daughter always think
Of the way I raised a stink
When she hammered on my study door, or muddied up the sink?
Will my bruised and bullied wife
Add a chapter full of strife
To the sad indeed cross-section of the mess I call
my life?
Gentle reader, lass or lad,
You have wondered (and I’m glad):
“Wouldn’t his good points, remembered, help to balance off the ‘bad?”
My bereaved reply, “They should,
Or let’s make that read ‘They would’–
If in all our taking Ray apart we’d found ONE POINT
of GOOD!”
All 10-16-44, a.m.,
while carrying the mail….
by Ray Romine Monday, October 16, 1944
I am the sort of husband who
Almost never misses,
After a day of strife, to greet the wife
With sundry hugs and kisses.
Candy and flowers would also keep her
Happy, but my way’s much cheaper.
by Ray Romine Thursday, October 25, 1951
Although in pictures they portray
Large cheer and Cupid’s darts,
Smiles are the saddest things when they
But front for aching hearts….
by Ray Romine Sunday, January 4, 1953