Category: Pets

So “He Won’t Bite!” Still I can’t see
Why we should try him out on me.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, December 9, 1952

I’m reassured. You say that he
Won’t bite, despite his din.
But, like my great-great grandpa’s,
His teeth look better in.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, September 24, 1952

Dogs have their place, I will concede,
But what I cannot pardon
Is that each kind and type and breed
Thinks that place is my garden.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, November 1, 1950

Thanks to the aid of chlorophyll,
My dog has not a smell that’s ill.
Sometimes I wonder, though, what he
Is thinking when he sniffs at me!

by Ray Romine Wednesday, September 24, 1952

“My Best Friend”, I see they call him,
But he’s keeping me awake.
Cease, O Friend, thy endless barking–
Let me sleep, for heaven’s sake.

I can never work tomorrow
If I cannot sleep tonight;
I would try you on a riddle–
But a barkin’ dog won’t bite.

I would ask you most politely
That you shut up, but I’ve tried;
I would toss you forth a biscuit,
If I had some cyanide.

To blast you full of bullets
Tempts me more than I can tell,
But that’s noisy; and my arrows
In the dark don’t see so well.

I could still resort to reasoning
With your Master: I would, too–
Were I not convinced that he is
Muoh more stubborn yet than you.

Trouble is, your life’s too easy–
If for food you had to fight,
Day would find you tired by evening,
Then you’d MAYBE SLEEP AT NIGHT!

by Ray Romine Monday, June 21, 1943

I think your boxer’s very cute,
Both topside and beneath;
I’ve much admired his perky ears;
I’ve noticed, too, his teeth.
So, if I’m timid when I pet
Your pup, don’t blow your stack–
It’s just that if he has my hand,
When will he give it back?

by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 7, 1951

A barking dog won’t bite, they say,
And while that’s all right through the day,
I greatly favor, after dark,
A biting dog that doesn’t bark!

by Ray Romine Monday, October 14, 1946

I missed the fresh red-clouded dawn;
The housework held me tied today;
Red roses bloomed upon the lawn;
But cleaning called–I couldn’t stay.
A cardinal insisted I
Join him, but where was time for play?
Home tired from work, Pete caught my sigh:
Kissed my stray curl–and saved the day!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, July 3, 1951

Doc, come quick,
Our dog is sick;
Hell’s broke loose at our house:
Sue’s upset,
Eyes are wet—
Not the dog! Sue’s my spouse!

Rush, Dr. Pill,
Our terrier’s ill;
Family disrupted.
Doggie dear
Is low. I fear
On something vile he supted.

Sure, Doc, but–
Our poor old mutt–
Couldn’t I you, too, be owing?
I HATE the pup,
But fix him up:
Daughter’s overflowing.

So hurry, Doc,
Ol’ fightin’ cock–
How soon can you be over?
Three o’clock?
‘Ray for Doc!
Family’s saved, AND Rover!

by Ray Romine Monday, April 12, 1943

You struggle for–and get–attention
With more tricks than I’ve space to mention.
You nod, you wink, you smirk, you pose;
You pirouette on twinkling toes;
You play up dolly’s vaccination;
You monopolize the conversation.

Into my pride of you, small elf,
One saddened note intrudes itself:
Here sits your dad, ex-life-of-party,
Eclipsed by his three-year-old smarty!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, August 29, 1950