A different Christmas poem

[aussiew]

I'd like to wish all my wall friends a safe and happy time with their friends and families. I'd also urge each of you to take a minute to remember and show appreciation for all our heros in uniform.

This is long but worth reading.

 

A Different Christmas Poem

 

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I

gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

 

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter

beside me, angelic in rest.

 

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

 

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

 

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

 

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I

slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

 

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I

opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

 

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the

sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

 

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I

crept to the door just to see who was near.

 

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A

lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

 

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a

Marine, huddled here in the cold.

 

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing

watch over me, and my wife and my child.

 

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in

this moment, it's freezing out here!

 

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

 

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from

the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

 

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said ...

 

"Its really all right, I'm out here by choice.

I'm here every night."

 

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That

separates you from the darkest of times.

 

No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to

stand here like my fathers before me.

 

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," Then

he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

 

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And

now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 

I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my

wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

 

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The

red, white, and blue... an American flag.

 

"I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away

from my family, my house and my home.

 

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

 

I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down

my life with my sister and brother.

 

Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure

for all time that this flag will not fall."

 

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your

family is waiting and I'll be all right."

 

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

 

It seems all too little for all that you've done, For

being away from your wife and your son."

 

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just

tell us you love us, and never forget.

 

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

 

For when we come home, either standing or dead, To

know you remember we fought and we bled.

 

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That

we mattered to you .......as you mattered to us.

[KD in CA]

What a great piece, thanks for posting it.

 

Good thoughts for your son and all who are serving the country and won't be home for Christmas.

[Spun]

Very well written! Are you the author?

 

I raise a cold pint for the troops!

[aussiew]

Very well written! Are you the author?

 

Hell no. I heard it this morning on the local Bill Bennett show and copied from their radio web site.

[stuckincincy]

Thank you for that post, aussiew.

 

God Bless such folks...

[USMCBillsFan]

Here's another good one. Enjoy your Christmas this year. I'll be home next year...

 

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF

PLASTER AND STONE.

 

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO

IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

 

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.

 

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

 

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

 

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

 

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

 

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED

A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

 

WAS THIS THE HERO

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

 

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

 

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

 

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

 

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

 

THE VERY THOUGHT

BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES

AND STARTED TO CRY.

 

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

 

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

 

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

 

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

 

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

 

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

 

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

 

This poem was written by a Marine.

[cåblelady]

powerful

 

God Bless Our Troops

[BILLS4LIFE]

Thank you! GOD BLESS!