Sleeping Tiger

Dedicated To: The Veterans Of Pearl Harbor

In the venues of the painted sea, lies the thunder of infamy
Which soon will sweep down upon a pearl, a paradise of destiny
Hidden in the vastness of the blue Pacific Sea, lies a tiger sleeping lightly
Who's soon to be awaken, by the lightning from the sky

Have you ever wondered what its like, on the other side of life
Where pain is just a memory, in the recess of your thoughts
In between the bouts of pain, I try and shut my eyes
To dream of how it used to be, in the corridors of my mind

As I turn towards the window, in this army ward
Memories of when I was young, fill my heart with joy
I think back to the days, when I met a girl, who soon would be my wife
It was the summer of '39, and I remember, how hot it got that year

How lucky was I to find a girl, who would love me, for who I am
We shared a life, full of joy, how the memories come back to me
If only these thoughts could last, the rest of eternity
But that was not to be, for the pains of war, were looming
The signs were their to see, for the news we read together, make it clear to one and all, that death was taking its toll, on our friends across the sea

It wasn't long before a precious little girl, came to share our life
What a joy she brought to us in the summer of '41
But soon I received my orders, to report to Hickam Field
When she drove me to the dock, on that chilly foggy morn, how the tears did flow, from the women I loved so much, so many others felt the same, on that cold November day

I watched them standing on the dock, as the ship moved silently away, and I waved until the fog made them disappear, I remember passing beneath the bridge, of San Francisco Bay
Wondering what God has in store for me, as we headed out to sea
Would I ever see my wife and child, as the bridge faded into the fog, a silent prayer was said by me, in the early frosty morn

Within the week the Island of Hawaii, a paradise of the Pacific, appeared before our eyes
I remember the mountain called Diamond Head, how the name did fit, so awesome was the view, from the blueness of the sea

As we entered Pearl Harbor, my eyes could hardly imagine, all the ships at bay
For what a mighty Navy was gathered, for all of us to see
It was the 5th of December, when we departed from the ship
Headed towards the barracks, on the post at Hickam Field

By the time we got unpacked and settled, into our new abode, the weekend had started, it was the 6th of December, oh, if we only knew
As my thoughts got interupted, from the pain that jolted me, a shot from the nurse, sent me back into a sleepy trance

It was the 7th of December, I was sleeping soundly on that early Sunday morn, when the bombs began to fall, it threw me from my cot
I thought it was a dream, but the blood I saw from my friends, convince me it was real
I tried to find some cover, but that was hard to do, for the bombs and bullets which rained on us caused the ones, who were healthy, to help the ones who were hurt

I remember holding a stretcher, carrying one of my friends, when an explosion to the right of me, made my lights go dim
Not much else I remember of that God awful day, when I woke up in a ward, I was surrounded by my buddies, to the right and left of me
In between the bouts of pain, I asked the nurse, what happened, she said the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, along with Hickam Field, many died Sunday morning, and many more are hurt

As she checked my chart, I could see the hurt, deep within her eyes
She said its Tuesday morning, the Japanese have not come back, its safe for now, she thinks
I saw her scurry to a sailor, down the multitudes of beds, as I fell back into a sleep, to take the pain away

And now its Thursday morning, the pain remains the same, between the shots of dope, they pour into my veins, I know my days are numbered
As I look beneath the sheets, for my legs are gone and missing, their back at Hickam Field

For me the war is over, it becomes so clear to see, if God decides to let me live, I'll be with wife and child, if God decides to take my life, my pain will cease to be

Northern Lights

Dedicated To: Sarah Cardona

In the silence of a winter's night
Lies a stillness of lasting thought
That gives a feeling of pure delight
To one who's seen the golden orb
In the shadow of the Northern Lights

As I drift upon the sea, without a soul to comfort me
I see the stars above the waves, that rock me to and fro

I wonder how I found myself, alone and far from home
Somewhere between Land's End, and the coast of Newfoundland

Its been two weeks, since we left the harbor of St. John's Bay
In search of oil which drives us forth, to catch the majestic whale

During the coldness of the tenth night, a gale pitched its eye on us
We rode the storm, as best we could, but in the end, the storm won out, as the ship began to crack

I heard the Captain yell, abandon ship, save yourselves
As the lifeboats were cut away

So quick the ship began to sink, I hardly had time to think
I remember jumping into the sea, reaching to grab the side

Of a lifeboat floating by, with all my strength
I pushed myself to get inside the boat

Oh, how the waves did dance, between the cresting swells
When I looked out, from the shell, which protected me

In the coldness of the raging storm, the ship had slipped beneath the waves
Claiming the Captain and the crew, in the blackness of the night

I find myself all alone, with only a prayer to remember them by
I lay back in exhaustion, in wait of the fate, that lies ahead of me

Two nights have passed, since I boarded this craft
The gale that blew, has gone its way, but the waves still crest with awe

I fear my time is closing in, as the cold sets in my bones
As I look towards the northerly sky, a prayer forms in my heart

To God, I ask, please preserve my soul, from the swirls, of this relentless wake
With only the brilliance of the Northern Lights, to break the silence of the night

I peer in search of a ship, to save my mortal soul
I ask dear God, to rescue me, from the ravages of this domain
Or take me to your golden orb, the one you call your home

Cold Steel Bars

Dedicated To: Veronica Magallanes

Have you ever wondered, how life would be, if you could alter the past
How many of us, would go back in time, to turn our lives around

I've had dreams of doing that, when I feel so down and out
When life is going bad and all not right with me
The whispers of what I did, still haunt my inner thoughts

Four years have passed, since the grizzly deed, that put me here to stay
In this place, that's become a hell, wishing I could be anywhere else

I killed a man, that deserved to die, but the jury did not agree
So when I stood before the judge, and stared into his hazel eyes

I knew the moment he looked at me, death was in the air
And when he said those dreaded words, may God have mercy on your soul

It began to sink deep within, that my number would soon be up
Now I sit in my lonely cell, with a bible to comfort me

My Mother, Father, and brother, paid a visit just yesterday
But my sister refused to come, for it was her husband, I shot to death
Four years ago, last month, and I'm not sorry for what I did
For he gave her such a beating, the scars remain today

Now I wait, until the hour, that the state has set for me
To pay a price, with my life, so justice can be satisfied

I sit and wait for my death, with a bible to comfort me
Wishing I could go back in time, and start all over again

I wonder when the needle is inserted, in my shallow vein
Will I feel the cold set in, as the juice starts to flow
Will death be quick and easy, as my heart begins to fade

Will I shed tears, for the folks, that came to see me die
Or will my heart be cold as steel, when I look them in the eye

I need to make my choice now, for the warden will soon be here
He'll bring a priest, that for sure, another choice, I'll have to make

Will I ask God to take my soul, and forgive my many sins
How I wish I could go back in time, and forget the pain I'm in

I need to make my mind up quick, for the warden footsteps are closing in
And I know, he's not alone, I place the bible between my hands
As the cell door opens wide, the warden and the priest walk in

With a letter from the state, that reads, I'm to die promptly at 6PM
Without further delay, may God have mercy on your soul, I heard the warden say

He asked if I had anything to say, as I stood up to face my fate
I looked the priest in the eye, as tears began to well
I asked him, will God forgive all my sins, I've made along the way

He said my son, God will cleanse your soul today, if you truly believe in him
So go in peace, have no fear, he's waiting on the other side
He'll wash your sins clean as snow, I heard him clearly say

As we walked thru the cold steel bars, that have imprisoned me
I looked on with a different view, when we entered the lighted room

I could see people behind the glass, that came to see me die
As they laid me down on the hardened bed, my legs the first to strap

I turned toward the priest, with the warden next to his side
And handed him the bible, with a look of serenity on my aged face
For I knew right then, what he had said, just a little while ago

That God was waiting on the other side, and would clean my soul of sin
So I settled back to enjoy the ride, with a smile on my haggard face
Knowing their's a better life, awaiting me, just around the bend