Orders Given

Dedicated To: Melissa Martinez

As I sit in my easy chair, looking thru the window pane
The hazy day begins to fade, above the maple trees

My son and daughter, brought me here two years before this June
Its been a home away from home, but for me its not the same

For just last night, I lost a friend, who shared this room with me
And now I wonder, how much time, God will grant to me

As I rest in my easy chair, with not much else to do
I sit and think of better times, that filled my life with joy

My wife, my kids, the good, and bad, that made my life complete
The thoughts that I remember most, lie deep within my dreams

April, of 1942, comes clearly into view, I remember being on a ship at sea
That rolled, and pitched, and swayed

The aircraft carrier, USS Hornet was the name, painted proudly on her bow
With rows of planes, B-25's bolted tightly to her deck

With squadron leader, Lt. Col. James Doolittle, a pilot of world renown
He trained our group long and hard, for a mission, only he knows just where

Soon we'll learn to what degree, the targets will turn out to be
I remember the date, 18th of April, in the early morning dew

Orders were given, targets reviewed, time for departure, just hours away
As I sit back in my easy chair, memories flood back to me

The roar of engines, lit up the dawn, in the pitch black open sea
I recall saying a prayer, as Jimmy's engines began to quake

One by one they left the ship, second to last was I
The fear I held within my chest, I left on the carrier's deck

For war does things I cannot explain, orders are what I know
When they arrive, I snap right up, for my duty is ever so clear

A mission has been ordered, and death will ride our wake
I pray, the sting of death, will not touch us today

The ocean blue, beneath my wings, has turned to solid ground
As I fly along a path, I've never seen before

To drop a bomb upon a building, that holds the enemy
Why this plant and the people inside, are to be bombed today

Is not for me to question why, just complete the task
War is hell for those who fight, and for those who'll die today

The stench of death is in the air, it flies along with me
As I wake up, from my easy chair, it all comes back so clear

And now I know my time is near, as I look thru the window pane
The haze has gone, to be replaced, by the coolness of the evening stars

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
October 25, 2005

Flight Of Beauty

Dedicated To: Xavier Rene Magallanes

Along a lonesome corridor, between tall mountain pines
I ride a current of surreal air in my glider, flying high

I look below, between the flow of air that cushions me
To see the wonders of this land, that God has made for me

As I surge above the clouds, that gleam with misty dew
I glide this craft with breathless thoughts, as mountains come in view

The snow that caps the mountain peaks, makes me wonder even more
How special we must truly be, for God's splendor is so abound

It's there for all of us to see, just open heart, and soul
So take his beauty deep within, for he gives it free to all

Enjoy the gift he leaves for us, the choice is ours to make
And come along, and fly the air, your joy will never end

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
October 22, 2005

Men In Blue

Dedicated To: Michael Ray Gonzalez

I walked a beat, when I was young
With a partner at my side
Who was older, wiser, and ever so kind
To this rookie by his side

He taught me much of what I know
About the shady parts of town

I'm glad I listened to what he said
For he had much to tell
Of the times he came so close
To losing life and limb

I look back, and remember well
The times I walked the street
Now the circle, has come complete
And it is I, who shows the rope

To a youngster, who strolls the street with me
And listens so attentively, to all I have to say
I look at him, and see myself, when I was very young

I think back to my partner, and all the years between
As we walk down, the crowded street
In the shady part of town

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz

The Rail Man

Dedicated To: Mario H. Magallanes

On a lonely trek of land, so far away from home
Beneath the tons of steel so blue, beats a sound
I've known so well, and heard for many years

The sound of rails, is in my blood, I know of nothing else
For in my youth, both day and night, I worked the yard so hard
With callouses on my hands and feet, and sweat upon my brow
I did what any man would do, to keep his family fed

I worked and dreamed for a better life, for wife and child I slaved
I knew deep down, within my soul, time was all that I would need
To make my dream come true

And now, I sit and guide this train, down this lonely track
I thank you God for all you've done, to keep me safe and sound

The Hell We Patrol

Dedicated To: Christopher Martinez

Down a darken street so narrow
Lies a passage of deep deception

Lurking beneath the broken windows
With death behind each, blacken shadow

I feel a fear creeping over me
As I walk thru this wretched land

My fellow soldiers, walk beside me
With their rifles tightly held

We'll search this town, as duty calls us
To find an enemy, that hides so well

An order is given to advance
Towards a point upon the map

Oh, how I hate this town
The city, they call Baghdad

I say a prayer, as we trek forward
A call to God, forms in my heart

Please dear Lord, protect these soldiers
From the deadly traps, prevailing

In this God forsaken town
The city they call Baghdad

Soon I hear the sound of bullets
Streaming past my GI helmet

I search to find a spot to shield me
I turn to see my fellow soldiers, face the same ordeal

I look to see where the gunfire came from
All at once, we return the fire

Towards the shattered building
Across the pebbled street

Soon a silence fills the air
No more gunfire comes our way

I look to see if harm be felled us
Thank you Lord, no blood was shed

Once again, we resume our march
Soon we reach the point we seek

Now we can return to base
To rest our weary bones

And hope that God does hear our prayers
For tomorrow is another day

In this hatred hell of fate
The city they call Baghdad

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
Oct. ' 2005