Those Immortal Burma Shave Signs

Those BURMA SHAVE signs used to give us kids something to do,
As down the highways and byways in our 1935 Dodge we flew!
The chef-d'oeuvre from the quills of very creative poets flowed,
Nailed to fence posts for our cultural enlightenment along the road!

Take note of this sign young reader as you pass this way!
In just a little while you too will be hoary and gray!
And like your Pa with steady hand be true and brave,
As you wield that straight razor usin' BURMA SHAVE!

She told her beau, "You remind me of a thug,
With that scraggly stubble sproutin' on yer mug!
If its my hugs and kisses that you crave,
Best ya start usin' BURMA SHAVE!"

The feller tried over and over to get a job,
But potential bosses thought him a slob!
Never apply for work looking like a knave!
Use gobs of BURMA SHAVE when you shave!

With her feller Mabel had a beef.
Claude's stubble caused her grief!
Said she, "Yer wreckin' our romance!
Ever thought of usin' BURMA SHAVE by chance?"

If on your mug you are well endowed
With stubble of which you're not proud
In the mornin' after yer kisser you scrub,
Liberally slather with BURMA SHAVE, old Bub!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) All Rights Reserved
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Eastman Avatar
February 17, 2014 at 9:11 AM
Finally! Someone else who saw those signs... They were still sticking on the fence posts into the later 60's... in rural Missouri... No one had ever taken them down!
Bauer Avatar
February 1, 2014 at 4:51 PM
too bad burma shave doesn't exist anymore, bob - you could get a job there in a minute, writing ads for them! i enjoyed this one very much.....ilene
Pettit Avatar
February 1, 2014 at 1:05 PM
Sarge, this is absolutely superb! Loved every word of it!
Andresen Avatar
February 1, 2014 at 12:55 PM
- I imagine that it was hung up advertisements for "BURMA SHAVE" on many street corners - Nice to read .... "old memories", bob - Have a pleasant weekend !!! - oxox // Anne-Lise :)
Gorelick Avatar
January 31, 2014 at 9:32 PM
Memories for us old farts..lol. Good one! BG
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