Category: Self-Analysis

Very little now remains
Of yesterday’s persistence pains
Except one lone surviving fraction:
The deathless core of satisfaction.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, July 1, 1953

The oak tree stands up proud and straight;
The willow bows in shame–
My life can either emulate,
With myself–Just–to blame .

by Ray Romine Wednesday, September 11, 1946

Discovering one is a flat tire
May not placate nor salve one;
But of these situations dire,
I ‘d rather be than have one.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 22, 1953

My sun tan oil, my swimming trunks,
Are ready for the shelf.
My daughters sigh, but never I–
I’m almost there myself.

by Ray Romine Sunday, June 17, 1951

Whatever does he see in her,
Or she in him? Yet, I aver
It is as plain, it just could be,
As whatever somebody sees in me.

by Ray Romine Sunday, February 18, 1951

I have a picture on my wall
That shows me as a boy of two;
I’d like to swap my worries now
For those of then, and wouldn’t you?

I have to stop and just admire
The daraling, ducky way I dressed,
In starcy little cunning things
That daddy bought, and mother pressed.

Through quite no effort of my own,
My hair was combed–my hands were cleaned;
And trouble couldn’t reach me then,
For someone always intervened.

Just sit and play, and play and sit;
No thing to do but just relax.
No war to fight; no work to do:
And, best of all, no income tax.

No headache then, no nerves, no rush;
No children of our own to tend–
What did I ever do to make
A situation like this end?

All our aims are much the same:
To have us riches, leave our fears.
And these, I say, I had when I
Was slightly damp behind the ears!

A little wish, O Providence,
Grant to this dreamer. If you can,
THen make me once again a kid
So I can wish I were a MAN!

by Ray Romine Saturday, March 18, 1944

I have a thought in passing
That I think rather cute:
How will I look in nighties – Since
I can’ t buy a suit??

by Ray Romine Sunday, January 27, 1946

I see, now, things I’ve missed
Which might have changed the taste
Of this, my share of strife.

The man does not exist
Who can afford to waste
One second of his life.

by Ray Romine Monday, January 17, 1944

Those firm, flat statements that denote
Such character in me,
I find that I regard in you
As obstinacy.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 11, 1951

At twenty three my fill I’ve had
Of things on earth both good and bad.

And if there is anything here new,
I’d like to try it–wouldn’t you?

The same old thing the same old way
Sure gets me down day after day.

I’d like to leave’ it all behind,
And go ‘way off somewhere and find

A different life, a brand new game
Where no two days are quite the same.

And then I’d wish me back, I s’pose
The same old rut– the same old clothes.

The same old thing the same old way
Looks better looking back some day!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, January 23, 1934