Selections from Trella Romine's library at Terradise Nature Center
Ray Romine Poems
The end of the future is far away;
Forever’s a long, long time–
And though insignificant, every day
Is part of the cosmic climb.
So, even a comparatively little hour
May share in the scheme of things,
And a part of a second contain the power
We need for awakenings.
An age in the distance may build on today–
The present is something sublime.
The end of the future is far away;
Forever’s a long, long time.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 5, 1944
Al though he sails between the trees,
Clinging to the limbs with ease,
He bounces like a happy mouse
Down here, when Spot is in the house;
And I have watched him. playing clown
On our fences, upside down.
He waves his tail, and struts and shows it;
He’s clever, and I think he knows it,
For he tells me when he stops to chat,
That he’s the perfect acrobat!
by Ray Romine Wednesday, December 17, 1952
He leaves the “regular” alone–
Could it be that the brute’s
Been trained through advertising
To accept no substitutes?
by Ray Romine Monday, January 26, 1953
To everything he did, he gave his best.
“Worth doing? Then, “he said, “Let’s do it well.”
And practiced what he preached: he did excel
At many things; and we his friends attest
He was a sort of model for the rest
Of us, by whom we checked ourselves. Who fell
Beside the way was lifted by his spell–
To earn his lighted smile was worthy quest.
He served, his short life through, his Church and God,
For glory, wealth and fame were not his goal;
Until one day on Holland’s shock-torn sod
He served the all of us–he gave the whole.
Immortal, he, as only those can be
Who live forever in our memory!
by Ray Romine Tuesday, November 28, 1944
What makes me rave
Is to have them behave
The way I did
When I was a kid!
by Ray Romine Saturday, January 31, 1953
From January to July
I watch them course across the sky;
Through zero chill and summer haze
I see them set the nights ablaze.
I view, regard, identify,
Admire; again, with wistful eye
I gaze; but cannot rate its worth-
The truly Greatest Show on Earth!
by Ray Romine Sunday, March 19, 1950
When you recall
What I’ve forgotten,
I think it’s al-
Together rotten.
And yet, my son,
It is quite true
It’s rather fun
Reminding you!
by Ray Romine Monday, October 22, 1951
Gad! I see my Christmas shopping
Isn’t over, as I’d thought–
Comes now after-Christmas swapping
What the other fellow bought.
by Ray Romine Thursday, September 1, 1949
Make me, God, a garbage-can,
And so of use to fellow-man.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, September 24, 1946
Fate, spare me from the man who says,
With well-intended candor,
“Your face reminds me so of Poe,
Or Walter Savage Landor.”
From Webster I may borrow words,
Or verse from Hoffenstein;
Or from old Shakespeare float a quote–
My face at least, is mine!
by Ray Romine Saturday, October 26, 1946