Fleeting Shadows

Dedicated: Lost love, may it be found again.....

Inside this dawning, I can only ponder, as we age into another year
Is their more to life then I perceived, in the tangled webs we conceived

Against the canvas of the sky, repose desires of forbidden fantasies
Of the lies, the truths, the in betweens hidden within our thoughts

If only we could find the trust, that was lost along the byways
This separation now existing, would be but an afterthought

And all we've struggled to gain, in the time shared as one
Would not relieve the pain deep down, for the love we failed to find

I mention this in passing, as I look towards the future
To whom I once loved, I'm filled with such regret

Of long forgotten memories, a reminder from a distance past
Barren, unbridled with a tinged of sadness, for what we'll never share

But most of all, of what could have been
As we watch the feelings we did embraced, fill our hearts with tears

Seeking to encounter that certain something, to make this life complete
We'll trek toward the fleeting shadows of our dreams

As we fade into the night

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
January 20, 2008

Mystical Cries

In Memory: Those lost at sea.....

They're mystical cries which arrive in my sleep, every so once in awhile
They ascend from the depths of the ocean, bringing tears to my watery eyes

The thoughts which exist, I try to forget, regrets from a tearful past
So clearly is heard, from the realm of my dreams, sad memories contained in my heart

They're the sounds of the men, I lost from my ship, in the gales of a ragging sea
Brave men who fought the might of the waves, in search of elusive oil

I've always believed a Master's duty, is to keep ship and crew intact
But nature sometimes intervenes, to decide what fate we'll take

So in the haunts which comes to me, on the crest of a endless swell
I'll pray for the souls of the men who were lost, in the wake of a violent storm

And I'll ask the good Lord, to forgive this Captain, for what he was unable to do
In bringing the ship along with the crew, safely back home to shore

The mystical cries I will always remember, for the courage they showed to the last
By the sailors who paid the ultimate price, in seeking the majestic whale

So in the shudders that come to me, every so once in awhile
I hope they'll remain in the depth of the sea, to relieve the pain in my soul

For they died in the hope of living again, such bravery I'll never forget
May they rest forever in internal peace, in the deep of their watery graves

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
January 7, 2008

Afterglow of Sheer Delight

Birthday Poem for my wife, Evangeline

If all the starlight, in the heavenly skies
Could be placed into a crystal glass, for all to view and behold

Like diamonds radiating colored sparkles
Which follows the glow of your face

The light amassed could not equal
The brilliance which shines from your eyes

The instant I see your caressing smile
The feel of your touch, this expression of joy

Reaches the very fabric of my being
Bringing contentment to my soul

Thus leaving the afterglow of sheer delight, to carry me home
As I swirl around in complete awe, of the women I've come to know

While the aftermath is like erasing the darkness, from out of the night
Reminding me of the total commitment of love, locked deeply within my heart

So I'll express my heartfelt thoughts, to the essences you truly become
To tell you how much I love you, more then all the wonders in heaven above

This is my pledge to the women I love, to the partner whose been my life
To honor, cherish, protect you forever, like the stars that glisten the sky

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
January 5, 2008

Fade into Oblivion

Can we fade into oblivion, on the measure of our lives?

Can we drift upon our broken dreams, below an empty sky?

I sometimes ponder in my thoughts, when I'm encased in loneliness
In sorting through the untruths we've told, in hiding the guilt we caused

We've shared a life for many years, but never totally as one
I'll go one way, you another as we travel our separate ways

In between that distance, lays the reality of our past
As we share a loveless bed, to match the coldness in our stare

So I'll search for truth and meaning, to keep us man and wife
For I tire of this existence, it's no way to live a life

There's withered canyons holding memories, of love long forgotten
I ask you dear, to seek with me the passion we once embraced

It's not too late to alter fate, if we give it half a chance
Within the blink of a wayward eye, the world can change forever

So work with me help me find, what once we held so close
For I'm too old, to set in ways, and I think you feel the same

And in that destiny we'll create, our love shall bloom anew
Our broken dreams will be mended, as we learn to love again

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
Januray 2, 2008

Remnants of A Lonely Past

On tangled webs and evergreens, we spin towards the end
As another year begins to fade, into the shadows of the night

I watch from my second story loft
In the hope of finding faces, to fill my empty thoughts

Leaving only the leaves of late December
Moving silently across the lawn, to stir a chill in me

Remaining me of what was lost, and what was gained
Remnants of a lonely past, I'll never see again

While the pursuit into the realm of another time
Lingers in my heart, as I wonder what's to come

So I'll gather with hope and prayer, as I ponder what lies ahead
Wishing the best for one and all, in the wake of this New Year

May God Bless each one of you, who'll read between these dreams
In the ramblings of a man unsure, of what lies around the bend

So pray along with me, for brighter days to come
Believe my friends, that's all it takes, to make our hopes come true

For in that yoke of darkness, which surrounds our mortal souls
Shall be lifted by the Son of Man, as he descends upon his throne

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
December 26, 2007

Song for Merry Poets

Dedicated: Members of poetry2share

May God Bless you Merry Poets, who share your thoughts with me
I'm here to sing this song for you, so please bear with me my tune
I wish the very best for you, and may all your dreams come true
In the hope that all will be OK, I pray
In the hope that all will be OK

On this birthday of our Lord, our Christ who died for all our sins
He came to save the world for us, if we only all believe
So keep your spirits in your heart, and share what you can spare
And bring joy to the world we know, and love
And bring you to the world we know and love

Merry Christmas, & Happy New Year, fellow poets, puddles singing off

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
December 18, 2007

Fog of Destiny

I hear a calling, which beckons me
To a place which inflames the cold

The ocean blue, beneath the keel
Is a haven, which gets in one's soul

It thickened the joy of being young
Even when you're lost in time

Grey skies,above tall masts
And a boat, that is part of my past

Is all that's left of the fantasies?
I've learned to keep to myself?

How I yearn to be back at sea
Within the shelter of my ship

Riding upon the cresting swells
In the wake of an endless swirl

Where the moon rises, the mist lies
Amid the fog, that hides destiny?

But the years march on, my youth left behind
With only memories, to cherish my thoughts

So I sit in my chair, with a look of despair
As I recall the thundering sails

Filled by the winds, that carries the lights
From the Northern Hemisphere

Wishing to return, to the place I call home
What envisions appear in my tears?

So I'll dream of the days, and the salty spray
From an ocean that's no longer mine

As my ship harbors me, in one final voyage
To the port, where my heart longs to be

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
Dec. 10, 2007

Poet of The Month

To Alan & Mystic

Thanks every so much for this special honor
It shall remain with me for as long as I write

Words which comes in the gift
From God above

Roland
Nov. 22, 2007

Twilight of Time

Sealed within the shadows, in the twilight of time

Looms the memories of our wayward dreams

They come with all our yesterdays, as the early morning dawns

In this never-ending cycle, as the stars begin to dim

I think of the troubled years, we've shared along the way

The good, and bad, even the awful shame, never seems to fade

This appears to be a part of us, within the shelter of our hearts

A reminder of the treasures in life, as we entwine into the light

Upon that bridge of destiny, which is soon to enfold

We'll age with total grace, towards that final goal

But not before I tell you, how much you've meant to me

With sad regrets, I seldom mention, how I truly feel

The essence which dwells inside my soul, has always been for you

So in the travels to a new beginning, as our sun begins to set

Remember my dear, between the sorrows

Reside the tears of passion, I've always held for you

If you could just forgive, all the hurt I caused

I wish in the days remaining, to smother your thoughts with love

So take my hand, hold me tight, and never let me go

For in the time God grants to us, the best has yet to come

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz

November 07, 2007

Sweet Desire

Like the passions within a wishing well
Which no longer flows with dreams

Lies the thoughts of all the love I keep
Between the loneliness of my tears

I think of you each passing night
As I drift into a daze

In the shadows of your memories
Are heard the melodies of sweet desire

They come before the twilight
It wakes me to the dawn

Reminding me of that last embrace
Before the Angels took your soul

I cry each night, for the lullabies
We'll never share together

But this I know, as sure as the sun
Rises above the morning dew

That special day will arrive again
When together we'll be as one

In the songs we'll sing in harmony
Will be to praise our Lord and savior

For in the universe he calls his home
We shall live forever, in the paradise of his love

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
November 1, 2007

Headless Rider

Dedicated: Poetry2Share

I dreamt a scary dream, just the other night
It woke me up before the dawn

My sheets were wet with sweat
As I was petrified with fear

So I'll tell you of the nightmare, to put my mind at ease
For it's the eve of October, soon the goblins will appear

It starts with mystic bells, ringing so loud and clear
Which brings the sounds of a headless rider, astride a blacken horse

Riding silently in an ancient land, with only numbers by his name
He holds a bloody blade upright, dripping with the stench of death

He cuts across the meadow, beyond the ageless moors
Towards a rustic castle, with death etched upon his sword

On a steed that has no heart, he rides towards a kill
He comes from hell, God help us all, to rid the fear he brings

Within the manor beyond the glen, reside four knights reposed
Not knowing the evil that comes their way, they sleep into the night

A chill so cold that stings the skin, wakes Sir Alan from his bed
His fantasies of a painted lady he calls Doreen, fades fast into the dew

He hears a deafening sound, as the headless horseman explodes unto the ground
He wakes his fellow knights in haste, to face what comes from hell

Sir Claude, Sir William, Sir Berry, will protect the home they know
They'll fight to their very death, to Lord Roland they owe this due

As the black hearted rider, stands at center court
The four brave knights unleashed their swords, to slay this wicked mass

Just as they were to clash, I woke to the fullmoon, and the sounds of thunder
Not knowing how this all came out, I ponder did evil slay the knights

There is a silverlining to my imagination
The tale I've told will come again, before Allhallows Eve

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
October 23, 2007

Author's Note
Sorry Alan, here in Texas I'm unable to be the Lord of my castle
But in England, that's another story, Happy Halloween

Rapture of the Deep

Dedicated: To the brave men, serving beneath the sea

In the innocence of your eyes
Lies the volume of an empty heart

It pulls towards a craving, within the whispers of the wind
Half hidden from the longing, which remains inside of me?

Six months out from land, without the sky to even view
Makes this tour of duty lonely, amid the deep which we endure

Each day our dreams are separated, by the loneliness of despair
Gives me thought of how I miss you, in the remoteness which we share

In the solitude of my bunk, in the hours I have free
I contemplate caressing the softness of your touch, as I kiss your tears away

The memories kept within my soul, grows stronger by the day
For I know very soon, I'll be back between your arms, to share eternal love

Until that time arrives, I'll perform a seaman's duty
Aboard this mighty boat, which patrols beneath this briny?

For I'm a submariner a member of the crew
We set sail, on a voyage forging onwards

To secure the peace, bound in silence
Amongst the rapture of the deep

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
October 02, 2007

Slumber of My Dreams

A convoy of U.S. military vehicles moves through the Kuwaiti desert toward the Iraqi border

Dedicated: To the men and women, in a far away land

In between reality and the slumber of my dreams
Lies the softness of the love, which caress each thought of you

Every night that separates our lives, brings tears to my aching heart
While the sadness contained within my soul, is too much for me too hold

So I'll think of you each moment, in this land so filled with fear
As we trek across the painted sands, in the duty I swore to adhere

I truly hope God keeps me safe, and brings me home to you
To be inside your loving arms, is all that I do pray

So fear not my darling wife, I shall return to fill your life with love
Within the slumber of our dreams, we'll share each night together

Resides the true reality of peace
Which came with the price, we suffered

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
September 22, 2007

Multitude of Blazing Stars

Their is a multitude of blazing stars, flashing across the sky

They each contain our names encompassed, since the very first moment of time

Some shine brighter then others, while many go unnoticed
I sometimes wish I could sparkle, and be seen by many others

For God knows each of us by heart, even before we're born
He gives us life along the way, and we're the ones who'll decide

What course to take, in our travel towards the end, as we streak across the sky?
In the years that are given, many choose to ignore his name, forget he even exists

Within his grace even those who blaspheme his name, can come back into the fold
The price which was paid, by the death of his Son, upon that wooden cross

I hope my star carries me to the place he calls his home
For I know I'll glitter like a diamond, in the sky he calls his own

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
September 19, 2007

The Aftermath

Dedicated: Those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina

As I look upon the spot, I left just two years ago this month
I see the emptiness before my eyes, and not much has changed today

A hurricane named Katrina paid a visit that fateful day
She brought much death and damage, to those who stayed and prayed

I was one of many, who decided to leave in haste
For I have seen all this before, have felt the savage of Mother Nature

Her fury contains no mercy, for those who decide to stay
Leaving all I loved to find a safer haven, then the one we left that day

With my children and only memories, we drove from New Orleans in tears
Before the storm came ashore, and raped the city we loved

Now two years have passed, and not much has really changed
The politicians say so much, they all mean so well

But just look around, in between the streets, only dreams remain
Of what this city once was, and now will never be

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
September 08, 2007

Fruits of Wild Desires

I come to wonder how one accepts the fruits of wild desires
Do we climb into a darken cavern, and hide the flames of passion

Or face the ragged feelings, which keep our hearts at bay
I have noticed in the years of struggle, that love is ever fragile

Once broken, embracing lips will never taste the same
Such is the lesson one learns, in the haunts of an immoral life

Along with the truth of broken dreams, comes tears filled with lies
Which I thought were hidden from you, in the secrets I kept inside

I have turned away the love, from the woman that's been my wife
To bear the essences of lust, which has cast my soul to hell?

For within this dungeon of a sadden heart, which beats a lonely chord
Lay the visions of all the hurt I caused, along with the price I'll pay?

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 26, 2007

The Ebbs and Flows of Time

Have you ever wondered about the ebbs and flows of time?
The ups and downs, the turnarounds, which makes our lives surreal

Arriving upon an age far detached from the youth, I once embraced
I begin to view the ease of life's simplicities, in the autumn of the years

Wishfully looking towards the past, where lies my inner core
Praying and hoping the good outweighs the bad, as I seek a higher ground

Uncertain of what lingers ahead, I gingerly stay on this narrow course
Reluctantly accepting the errors of my ways, as I forge towards my goal

Following the pattern within my soul, to fine some peace of mind
For I am tired, ready to rest my weary bones, as the sun begins to dim

So I will prepare for what's to come, as the bridge comes to an end
In asking the holy savior, to melt my sins away

For in the ebb and flow of time, reside the true delusions
Which erupts with pure rapture, in the radiances of his love?

In this delirious state of redeeming grace, our Lord grants to each of us
Lies the path to infinity, with his death upon the cross

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 22, 2007

Kaleidoscope of Hope

In God's kaleidoscope of hope, lies the majesty of his gifts
Which comes four times each year, in the creation of the seasons?

For in the vastness of his domain, contains the reason for each change
As he paints with golden hues, across the canvas of the sky

Spring brings new beginning, to fill the earth with joy
Just look at the birds as they nestle within, the confines of the trees

While summer carries the heat, to give foliage that brings the shade
You will see this as the sun, tracks across the painted plains

Then comes fall to cool and slowdown, the growth encountered
Which readies us for what is to come, as the sun begins its tilt?

Lastly comes the winter, which impedes our growing pains
The leaves begin to fall, the birds in flights are gone

This is just my feelings, for the reasons of the seasons
I thought to share the impressions, imprinted within my heart

But the one who really knows, the majesty of these gifts
Is our God so high above, the creator of all that is known?

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 7, 2007

Valley of Shadows

Into the valley of shadows, I walk with perilousness care

Not knowing where I'm going, not sure I even care

These dreams and more come to me, in the darkness of the night
As I seek to fine the peace of mind, within the brightness from the light

I fear what lays ahead of me, as the years slowly shows my age
Is their life on the other side, or does the finality end with me

So many questions abound, about what lies beyond the grave
Only death will bring the answers, to the knowledge, left unknown

So I'll place my faith in the one who knows, as I prepare to go my way
For the valley of shadows, which awaits for me, will no longer be of dreams

And the reality, not the finality will be my eternal reward
As I search to find my savior, in the brightness of his home

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 4, 2007

Soldiers, So Brave & Bold

Dedicated To: Anthony Thomas Gonzalez

On golden sands with silver wings, I walk towards your dreams

They come at night when I'm alone, which brings comfort to my soul

Riding along this corridor, in a hell hole that's called Iraq
Thoughts are shared within this Humvee, to calm the fears we have

As we trek onwards to our destination, and hope no blood is shed
For bombs are hidden everywhere, just waiting for us to pass

While the politicians sit at home, and decide what fate we'll take
The war goes on no end in site, as our President remains steadfast

So we'll plow ahead hoping for the best, in a war that seems unfair
Praying for brighter minds to prevail, in sending the troops back home

But until that time arrives, and we return to the land we love
Our orders remain ever so clear, as so the duty we swore to uphold

To defend the honor of this nation, until our orders are changed
On a road caked with the blood of soldiers, so brave and bold

Who gave their all for God and country, as only heroes can?
The dreams of peace remain in us, as we pray to survive this day

And the thoughts for you will be of the love we share, which keeps my sanity
As we ride upon the desert sands toward the city, they call Baghdad

Written by Roland R. Ruiz
July 20, 2007