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 it’s 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 there to see, for the news we read together
Made 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 interrupted, 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, convinced me it was real
I tried to find some cover, but that was hard to do, for the bombs, and bullets
That 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 it’s Tuesday morning
The Japanese have not come back, it’s 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 it’s 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
Written by: Roland R. Ruiz