A Poem About Xmas And Soldiers

[Goldseeker]

I have just received the poem below from a friend.

Now I give it all to my other friends on this forum.

Enjoy.




T'WAS 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  DISORDER,
 NOT HOW I PICTURED,
 AN AUSTRALIAN 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 DID NOT 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."
 
 

[humpybong]

Good one Goldy...thanks