Category: War

Newsitem: Under this new set-up, Selective Service Officials said today, the only grounds for exemption of fathers whose numbers come up, would be physical unfitness, occupational reasons, or “extreme-hardship” cases. Apparently those with investments, or money in the bank would be at a disadvantage.

“As ye sow so shall ye reap”,
Is an adage I’ve defended;
But now, the dough I tried to keep
I wish, by damn, I’d spended.

(or,)

“As ye sow shall ye reap”.
Has seen me quite contented:
But now the pelf I’ve slugged to keep–
O HOW I wish I’d spented!

by Ray Romine Thursday, August 12, 1943

Our dear Father in Heaven, I’m praying to Thee,
And a favor I’m asking that’s selfish of me;
Still, I never have asked for the riches of life,
Or the thousand small trifles so dear to a wife;
I have tried not to trouble about little things,
But looked toward the comfort which love for Thee brings.
When Thou took the boys’ father some twelve years ago,
‘Twas the Grace of Thee only that kept us, and so
I shall carry on, trying, whatever ensue–
But: please keep the stars in my front window blue!

Revised 10-11-43
Our dear Father in Heaven, I’m praying to Thee,
Saying “Thank You” for something– it’s selfish of me;
Still, I never have asked for the riches of life,
Or the thousand small trifles so dear to a wife;
I have tried not to trouble about little things,
But looked toward the comfort which love for Thee brings.
When Thou took the boy’s father some twelve years agao,
‘Twas the Grace of Thee only that kep us, and so
This Thanksgiving, O God, I can thank Thee anoew
For keeping the stars in my front window… blue!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, November 17, 1942

No CAN for the kidney bean,
No CAN for the corn;
No CAN for the apple lush,
From loaded tree shorn.

ONE CARN left in the whole darn plant!
I know vhet I’ll do–
Tie THAT to my own coat-tail,
And get a WAR JOB TOO!

by Ray Romine Saturday, October 10, 1942

Didn’t I hear some staff-member say, “How come he doesn’t
write a pome about US”?? I dood it. You may, for
all I care, call it “MANPOWER SHORTAGE”…

They speak of the Manpower Shortage as bad–
(Let me tell you about an experience I had):
Can y’imagine “Crusading”–Five girls to a man,
And myself the only man present–YOU CAN?

There was Dinny, and Margie, and Evaninne, too,
And Helen of Troy, and the Duchess (to you);
Five beauteous damsels all lush and full-blown:
And, when we had finished, I went home, ALONE!

Can it be that I’m slipping, or getting too old–
Or was I too timid, or maybe too bold?
There’s B.O. to consider, and pink toothbrush, too;
There’s no Best Friend who’ll tell me, so what’ll I do?

I’m six inches too tall, and too skinny, at that;
Or it may be my neckties, or even my hat;
It may be my flat feet; perhaps halitosis;
It could be I need a whole metamorphosis!

Of course, there is Florence and Sandy, but then,
What’s a trifle like that, with this shortage of Men?
My pride, it preceedeth some whale of a fall–
For, the worst thing, I’d no competition at all!

From the tall tales we hear, only One of those Five
Should have walked (with myself) from the Howards’ alive!
But, without any warning, the meeting was stag;
They’d scrammed out and left me there, holding the bag!

You guys in the Army, it’s tough to be bored,
But it’s better than being completely IGNORED!
For, when speaking of “Manpower Shortage” that be
They’re exempting the Boy Scouts, the Poets, and ME!!

June 23, 1943
(The day following the
“Crusading” above mentioned)

by Ray Romine Wednesday, June 23, 1943

Little scrape of paper,
Little drops of fat–
And we’ll all prove to Hitler
That HIS world is FLAT!

The earth will sing, whereupon,
“I’LL BE A ROUND, WHEN HE’S GONE!”

by Ray Romine Saturday, April 15, 1944

When these are gone, there’ll be no more
Until the ending of the war.
They’ve found a clever substitute
For garden tool, tin can, or suit,
But THESE’LL try their plastics lore!

Strong men their salty tears will pour
Since they can’t get ’em at the store.
The agony, we can’t compute,
When these are gone.

The girdle’s going cost some gore;
Silk stockings took a frightful score–
But picture me,if you’re astute,
WITHOUT MY GARTERS–ain’t I cute?
Prepare, O Pride, to drag the floor,
Yea, with my sox, forevermore
When these are gone!

SUGGESTIONS :
Pin ’em to your longies? You can’t, becawers
Safety-pins ain’t available, ‘n’ so are the drawers!

With rubber bands and garters as scarce as our liquor,
I guess all we can do is to just let ’em fliquor!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, January 25, 1944

I believe we HAVE shot down more planes
Than the Japs can stand to part with;
But the total of what we’ve CLAIMED to bag
Is twice they had to start with!

by Ray Romine Monday, November 1, 1943

Yes, lay him gently there upon the grass,
The soldier who but lately stood so bold
And died, to hold the foe beyond the pass.
His heart, so fraught with fire, is growing cold–
God give this nation hearts from this same mold!
More like him, who, not one to seek for strife,
Did, when he saw his duty, arms unfold,
And flinch not from the Master Pruner’s knife,
This boy who gave the all he had to give, his life.

God give this country hearts that here at home
Can work and sacrifice without complaint;
God give us men who from their native loam
Can give us food without a selfish taint;
Men who can pass our laws without a feint,
And men into whose jobs their souls can pour!
Of us, but very few will-e’er be saint,
But heroes can we create by the score–
If we’ll but give, and try, and fight a little more!
•
(Experiment with Spencerian
Stanza… fin. 10-15-42)

by Ray Romine Thursday, October 15, 1942

We wonder, as painfully homeward we drag,
Myself and war-worker colleague,
Which number the more in the war’s tragic lists-
Those killed by the guns, or FATIGUE?

by Ray Romine Thursday, August 5, 1943

Fantastic changes this war has wrought.
A scad of things you’n’ I’ve been taught
Have vanished reluctantly down the drain;
I won’t deny I have felt some pain.
What–live without ZIPPERS?
Perish the thought!
But, we’re doing without ’em once again.

Radical differences lie in wait.
Plenty of butter on every plate,
And coffee and sugar and ham and tea
Is a story of things as they used to be.
What–exist minus BEEF?
What a hideous fate!
Still we’re getting by, it seems to me.

We’d a plumber, once, for every faucet;
Twelve pairs of shoes in every closet;
A suit for everyday day in the week;
Amusement amusing, if not unique.
Life without luxury?
Overboard tossit!
We don’t NEED to be so fat and sleek.

So, to keep der Fuehrer’s “culture” crumbling,
We’ll do our parts end cease the grumbling.
‘Tho ahead we face still more restraining,
We can stretch some yet before we’re straining;
Do without a few things?
To “Keep ’em stumbling”
Is worth our efforts, I’m maintaining.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, April 14, 1943