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>>> > 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 soldier.
Posts: 622 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2004
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