Safe Harbor

Could it be the very structure of this world?
Be the cause of all the treasured dreams I've seen
Into the sultry sea we sail, enticed by the winds which swirl
Navigating into the abyss standing fast on this brigantine

Watching the distant releasing a welcome sunrise
Dispersing the darkness bringing the light the embodiment of such glee
Much joy the salty spray does make, across the painted skies
Riding memories emerged in currents, we trek towards the lee

Voyaging to a goal I hope to make, a safe harbor for our souls
Remembering my fellow shipmates the one I lost at sea
There faces linger tears still fall, from the shadows unmerciful cold
Thank the Lord there's just a few, these men of honoree

With the knowledge as Captain I was never overwhelmed
In guiding ship and crew from this vast domain safely back to poet
Tough decisions are often made by the one who mans the helm
As the harbor breaks this magical spell, to God and crewmates, I'll pay court

Sailing into St. John's Bay brings comfort to our souls
For we bested the majestic sea avoiding the dangerous shoals
Completing another voyage arriving with ship and crew intact
Resting we'll renew ourselves, in wait of a new course to track

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
September 05, 2009

Autumn Breeze

I hear the autumn breeze approaching

Ridding us of the heat the cause of much commotion

As summer gusts begin to fade

We've set a Texas record even in the shade

A fact many Texans will hate to hear, or come to love

Totaling fifty-nine days of 100 degrees and above

Just enough to shake ones head a test of true validity

Upon a state known for its southern hospitality

Not to mention the lack of moisture another record of shame

The dryness of this year makes El Niño take the blame

But as I've said before brighter days lie ahead

Those of us who share this land our fears will soon be shed

When autumn brings cooler air hopefully with rain

Changing the texture of the ground releasing us from our pain

That's what we're in need of now

To forget this season make it bow

For those of us born and raised in this Lone Star state

This season will truly be remembered etched into our fate

Weather like this plagues us ever so once in awhile

To this wide-eyed country boy, it's been one hell of a trial

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz

September 15, 2009

Wretched Soul

I'll share with you a secret I've come to learn with life
There is only roughness on the lanes of petty strife
Filled with curbs, with many obstacles obstructing our point of view
As we run this ragged gauntlet, like members of a ghastly crew

Who sail towards a destiny at times without a heart?
Seeking ways to break the cycle aboard a ship without a chart
To save what is so precious but the touch we feel is cold
Thinking how much the cost will be we sell our wretched soul

I know I am a sinner, I shall live a brief existence
For life can be long in living, and as short as an instant
So take a moment to reflect on what you have become
Decide just what is needed to change the total sum

If you feel there's more to living on the other side of death
Feel free to accept the one who died for in the whisper of his breath
Lies the smoothness on a road, with seamless curbs paved with gold
Leading to lasting majesty filled with the love he warmly holds

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 23, 2009

Brighter Days

There is a calling that thrives within my tortured soul
It wakes me to imaginary dreams on an ocean so far away
Aboard a ship beneath the mast, enveloped by the cold
I strain to hear amid the fog the sounds of a distant buoy

A remembrance of forgotten times which lie beyond the realm
Of waves surreal fearlessly dancing between the cresting swells
Astounded I ride upon this painted sea, with hands around the helm
Praying the glittering sunlight will not wake me from this spell

There is a hope within ones heart
For brighter days to come
To change the gloom which fills the cart?
In the march to a beating drum

But now the bygone days have passed
I'll accept what falls my way
Waiting for the sun to set, hoping the nighttime last
Just long enough to take me back to where I have a say

So I'll reminisce of the past as I close my eyes to sleep
Where a ragging sea within a gale rejoices me no end
Though the years have passed me by I still have tales I'll share and keep
For I'm the master who steers this ship, towards the howling wind

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 18, 2009

Startled Dreams

So many times we've seen the look
That defines just who we are
Arriving in startled dreams, like chapters from a book
Wakening hidden feelings, between the twilight of the stars

A gathering of forgotten memories to calm a restless heart
Complications of strife we'll carry to our graves
Hoping before life ends the hurt we caused departs
That's the way it is on a road which has been paved

By many tears shed from those who lead the way
For life is never easy it comes with many perils
The road to eternity has a price for those who have a say
It sings of songs for forgiveness by Angels in their carols

The cost for entering the gates of forever
Simpler then you'll think to imagine
Just believe in the Father and the Son, the bearer
Of the Holy Spirit who'll cleanse our souls of sin

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 10, 2009

Edge of Forever

There is a chapel of repose
Upon an island to eternity
A quite respite to decide and choose
To embrace infinity

We're born to sail this ragged sea
Filled with waves to engulf desires
With open heart we seek the key
That will guide us from this mire

In the course of one's reflections
Lies decisions hastily made in strife
Many will fail to make corrections
In their voyage to another life

As this ship sails to the edge of forever
Time is found which has no end
Those who wander are the givers
A few we'll know as friends

Many will pass beyond the edge
To some they will be missed
While others will thread the ledge
Afraid of the maddening abyss

By and by our trek will have an ending
For we'll be judged by our creator
Hoping goodness will be the binding
Which allows us thru the gate?

So in the course of this solemn trip
Felt deeply in our soul
We'll steer the rudder of our ship
Towards the brightness beyond the cold

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
August 4, 2009

Deranged

If the sky could shed tears
From the harm which has been struck
By mankind's controlling fears
Clouds would be like tear ducts

Crying waves of total despair
What pain would be shared?
To those below who stare?
At a world in need of repair

The years have took its toll
It's felt within our bones
The aches and pains we're told
Come in pollutants from our dome

Is their time for us to change?
To fix the damaged caused
From all we've deranged
For the clock has no pause

It moves towards a fate
We control our destiny
It can never be too late
For in the clearness of the sky

Stands infinity

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
July 23, 2009

Fabric of Time

Is death the breeze which blows away?
The very fabric of time
Will it come quickly like the winds which sway?
In the hidden notes of a forgotten chime

Within the silence of a throbbing heart
Exists a calmness the nature of necessity
I wonder will this destiny soon depart
Towards clouds of peace created by reality

Opening a gate to the unknown
Exposing a lonely trodden road
I've never traveled before yet knowning I'm alone
Bedazzled and feeling the pressure from the load

I trek beyond my mortal fears
Towards a goal I hope to make
Amid the moisture of flowing tears
I take control for my very sake

Hearing the death knell of the breeze
It shakes the outer edge of time
Forcing the trees to drop their leaves
Enticing my soul to wither and pine

Leaving this place of contentment
I'll gather new thoughts within this ride
To all that waits in wonderment
With open eyes and sorrowful pride

I wait to greet my fate

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
July 13, 2009

Scarlet Streams

There's a silent hush upon her face
Half hidden within sweet dreams
Memories lost in a maddening chase
Across the scarlet streams

Conceived in being a righteous lass
A country girl who wears no crown
She grew into a woman of class
In her move to jolly London town

In a solemn attitude so different than before
She learns it's not quite the same
As she bolts and locks the door
Wondering what price is paid for fame?

Now the days are spent alone
No time for fun just work
Recalling the times back home
Questions begin to lurk

One day she wakes yearning
From what was left behind
Thoughts from the past are burning
Within her tearful mind

Reflected from the mirror lines appear
Showing the effects of time
As the days turn into years
Teary eyes begins to pine

For what will never be
From all she left behind
Greeting another morn she turns the key
As the sun begins to shine

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
July 11, 2009

Silent Call

Dedicated: Those who work & retire

In the specters of the lonely night
Lies the dreams of hidden fears
Coming in riddles without much light
Struggling to maintain, I'll shed no tears

For what befalls befits this soul
I've earned my fate paid my dues
From this heat is felt the cold
Now it's time to take the cue

To drive towards the falling sun
To end what I've always done
Now I've become the total sum
Of a stranger who has been shunned

Time waits on no man
Has a calling all its own
In its move across the sands
Relentlessly it seeks a home

It catches up to one and all
Exploding upon the scene
It whispers a silent call
Curtailing a fading dream

No matter what will flow
From my remaining days
I'll accept the winds which blow
In my trek towards the setting rays

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
July 1, 2009

Who Am I

Who am I to tell you
Why the stars shine so bright
Who am I to explain
Why the day turns into night

Why do I even ponder
The reasons for this plight
For I'm a non-believer
I seek a torch to light

From the darkness of this cavern
That been a part of me
I crave the freedom from the pain
Which fills this empty soul

To walk among the righteous
To view what I can't see
Hoping to shed the weakness
Which shields me from the fold

For the many unanswered questions
Which keeps me at bay
Until I become a convert
a sheep among the flock

To roam and be protected
By the shepherd who leads the way
Then the many mysterious wonders
With a key he shall unlock

Enlightening the shadows of who I am
For my queries have been paved
By the blood of the Son who is the lamb
Within his grace my soul be saved

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
May 31, 2009

Final Moments

Can a heart be lost forsaken?
In a guise we call despair
Will the hurt given and taken
Be forgiven with loving care

Or is it just a fading memory
One's life to cry in shame
A cover to hide the mystery
For the reasons igniting the flames

So much does come my way
In the autumn of my life
Hoping it's not to late to pray
To rid these pains of strife

I'll ask to be forgiven
From the life I've defiled
For the hurt I caused the living
Brings repentance from this child

I know of only one
To take this pain away?
From the Father comes the son
Risen from the grave

I hear an Angel coming
Its name we know as death
My final hours are looming
I feel a shortness of breath

In my final moments
I'll reach to touch his hands
With grace he'll offer sonnets
In our walk across the sands

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
June 7, 2009

Dreams One Cast

It's said time a reflection of one's self
Captured memories treasures from the past
Dangerous yet alluring sometimes deeply felt
Best remembered in the dreams one cast

Upon this path we walk, we age
Leaving our youth behind
Like a bird hoping to leave its cage
We thrive to fly with clearness of mind

But that's not always the case
For life comes with ragged edges
Bumps we feel to line our face
Emoting fears we transverse the ledges

Afraid of what's below
We stare straight ahead
Creating a facade to proudly show
A cover easily painted and shed

Now as the gates of reality nears
It's time to close this page
Bringing an end to whimsical cheers
Of my ambitions of becoming a sage

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
May 25, 2009

Tides of Time

Will shameful desires be found in the specters of remorse?

Is the boundary which we share just a memory from the past

In bending heart and soul, will moments expand so dreams will last?

As we seek the flowing streams along this rugged course

A Rose by a rambling brook

In the early misty morn

Brings the sharpness of a daunting look

From a face so weathered and worn

Like the many straining shadows, to dash this urge of mine?

Our roving eyes come to meet, across a crowded room

Bringing back forgotten thoughts, as memories begin to pine

Of the love we once enjoyed as the past begins to loom

Wishing reverting passion would slowly commence to stray

Trying to hide the feelings, I stare another way

You with your husband, me with my wife

Slowly turning towards each other, we smile to cover the strife

Concealing the sultry feelings we shared so long ago

I whisper to my beloved, it's best we do take leave

Wondering as the door is closed could she possibly know

Not a word was as we drove home thru the rustling leaves

But deep inside I know she knows the carnal truth

Of the tryst, I tried to hide amid the tides of time

Written by Roland R. Ruiz

May 10, 2009

If

If a portrait of my dreams could be painted
Upon the shadows of your thoughts
What colors would yours eyes reflect?
Within the shelter of my heart

If a token of my love could embrace
The beauty of your soul
How long would time let us entwine?
As we sail towards the stars, beyond the Milky Way

If I could hold you close to me
As the storms of fears appear
What calm would be exposed
As we shed the sadden tears

From so many memories
Which clouds the sullen skies?
Our caressing touch would spark a light
To help us find the way

Towards eternal bliss arm in arm
We'll search towards a goal
An interlude to put a close
To all that ever been

As we dance into the canyons
Which holds serenity?
I'll peer within your shadows
To dreams of yesteryear

If only I were not so shy
What bliss would we create?
In our walk towards our fate
But alas it is too late

As I watch you drift away
Into the silence of the night

Written by Roland R. Ruiz
May 7, 2009

Warmth of Love

It's odd how the changing season
Brings an abruptness to the air
May brings the nesting birds and the warmth
To make plants grow

Makes one think that winter has left
But that's not how it fares
Living in Texas, spring is short-lived
Wishing it were slow

Having friends in England, I chat with saying
It's cold so awful frigid
I wonder how they would feel
If every day were 95 degrees and above

That's how it will be this week
The humidity just as rigid
Now the heat has come to roost
For this I have no love

My friends it's just going to get hotter and dryer
For sure that is no fun
I've seen in my lifetime in this Lone Star State
21 straight days of 100 and above

So to those of you who enjoy
The ups and downs of an English sun
Remember good old puddles, which in a matter of hours
Will see that rising star
Spreading the warmth of unrelenting love

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
May 04, 2009

Forgotten Secrets

Restrained amid the canyons of many sad regrets
Lie forgotten secrets I keep hidden within my wretches dreams
They come inside the darkness not trying to digress
Signals from the past dodging the nothingness between the schemes

They ride upon memories I'm not able to resist
Upon an ever widening cavern, I seek what is not there
Enlacing the passion much revered, I remember our last kiss
The mingle of fears in our final caress, tortures to hard to bear

Compressing my thoughts between the stars and the rising Moon above
Did I throw my heart to the wind, in my walk around your love
Now that time has riddled the ages, I ponder where I went wrong
Or is our destiny to pass as ships into the mist and fog

I'll wonder what awaits beyond the crest as the years begins to fade
Will it bring a close to the loneliness as the road begins to narrow
Do I dare wish the feeling of emptiness to remain within the shade
For tomorrow brings another day and the coldness from the sorrow


While the tears shed for past mistakes rules a heart so barren and cold
I'll have to live in the choice I made for now the time is late
This helps to decide my destiny in the ride towards my fate
In chosen a life without a partner conveys the hollowness of my soul

For in this void, I've come to rue

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
April 24, 2009

Ribbons of Pink Lace

33rd Wedding Anniversary Poem, for Evangeline
(04-24-76)

As the sun begins to set between the late evening dew
My eyes paint a portrait from the reflections of your face
Across the canvas of the sky with brush strokes of golden hues
I create sparkling rainbows holding ribbon of pink lace

To drape upon your loveliness, which I carry within my heart
As I smother you with kisses for you take my breath away
Each moment of our closeness will ensure we'll never part
In our voyage amid the struggles a reminder for us to pray

As the stars fade into the twilight
The sun will rise to show the way
Towards the passion of our solemn plight
Sheer beauty expounds in the words I say

For the total sum of commitment is needed in sharing this reality
On a path we follow together in search of eternal bliss
Entwining our lives as never before, we seek a true destiny
For in this trek towards forever, our love will never cease

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
April 10, 2009

A Father's Love

Dedicated: Those who have felt the shame and pain of child abuse

There is something in the air
I feel it in my bones
As I lie dying on this bed
Feeling empty so alone

I hear sounds from the sky
Not sure of what they are
How I wish for death to come
To release me from this lie

For all these many years
There's been a part of me
I've kept quite due to fears
So ashamed it made me feel

For hatred still embraces
The very fabric of my soul
It comes to me at night
In the horrors I must face

Never been one of faith
Lost it in my youth
Cannot believe a God
Would allow such abuse

To please my tearful wife
A reverend paid a visit
With a bible between his hands
Saying beyond death there's another life

He said the price to enter
Is to believe in God above
To accept his Son as our redeemer
That's all that must be done

So I took his words to savor
There must be something else
For I fear to die alone
I'll ask for a graceful favor

Remove the hatred I carry
Warm this heart so cold
Forgive my sinful ways
For my time begins to fold

I hear a movement in the air
An Angle is by my bed
Telling me Jesus sent him
As he reaches for my hands

He says do not fear
I've come to take you home
I'll guide you to a Father's love
Like you've never known before

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
March 24, 2009

Lone Star State

It rains not much in Texas
We're known for grander things
Among them is the heat
Which beats upon the plains

There are ranches big in acres
Longhorns grazing across barbwire
Atop the coastal dunes
Wild Mustangs still run free

In April come the Bluebonnets
Giving color to the highways
A sign of Spring's arrival
To take the chill away

Right now we're in a drought
How we pray for cloud filled moisture
To fill our lakes and close the cracks
Which marks the dusty and arid land

We've come to know as home
The farmers pray the hardest
Without rain no crops to harvest
Just dry brush fills the fields

Which feeds the fire's glow
It's great to live in Texas
Don't take me wrong my friends
I am proud to be a Texan

Would live no other place
I ask this one small favor
From my friends across the sea
When you say your prayers

Would you take a second or two
To remember your friend named puddles
Who's in need of a helping hand
In bringing the rains to flow

Upon this rainless mass
Which sustains so many souls
To end the drought that taken a grip
Upon this Lone Star State

Written by: Roland R. Ruiz
April 11, 2009