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 breathinig 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 freeziing 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; "It's 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's 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... and American flag.

   "I can live through the cold and 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 for 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 alright."

   "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 are 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 much as you mattered to us."

 

             I know it's a little early for this, but it seemed appropriate since Veterans Day is so near. To all of my fellow FS members who are brothers in arms; I salute you all.  JHK, OMB, SP, etc....... a better crowd to associate with would be harder to find.  I'm glad to stand watch with you all. God bless and keep you all.

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Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem.  Its a tear jerker......... and I love it.  

flame 

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Thank you, very moving poem.  Do you know who wrote it?

No author was listed. It was put on the Veterans for Secure Borders website last Christmas. It hit me pretty hard also.

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 I know it's a little early for this, but it seemed appropriate since Veterans Day is so near.

It's never the wrong time for this beautiful poem, JB.  It never fails to bring tears to my eyes and memories of heroes I have known to mind.

Thank you.   

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This has been making the rounds for several years and I'm glad it's still around.  Supposedly, it is by Michael Marks, written in 2000.  "A Soldier's Christmas"

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I love it--I am not embarrassed that my eyes are wet.

And then he was gone in the wet and the cold,

Off to somewhere, wherever he was told,

And I hope and I pray where they tell him to go,

That he knows , back home there are those who know,

And honor the sacrifice that each day he must give,

So those of us back here, each day can live,

In comfort and safety and freedom and love,

And to pray to our God, Who does look from above,

And sends us these people, these troops so brave

Who stand on the front lines, and America save.

And so you young troops, when your duty does end,

Come home to us, each a neighbor and friend.

I love it--I am not embarrassed that my eyes are wet.

Yup.....try reading it outloud to someone and see if you can get through it without choking up.  I can't.

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                         Go to your local Golden Corral restaurant Veterans Day and thank a vet, shake their hand, hug their neck, and donate generously to the Disabled American Veterans.  I have a hard time making it through it dry eyed also Patsy.

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I can hardly see to type this.  What a tear jerker.  I come from a long line of veterans and am married to one also.  The school where our daughter teaches and grandchildren attend has a program every year honoring veterans and they can all go and have lunch with their children, grandchildren or whomever and then they honor all the veterans and each child introduces who is with them and tells when and where they served.  We attend each year and I only wish every school did this.  It is so impressive and the children are so proud of their family members.

                Thanks Mammaw.  Glad to hear that the school honors vets, not too many do that anymore.   No one hates war more than a professional soldier.  God bless 'em all.

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Jason I found it I hope you don't mind me putting it here:

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 FOR 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."

(Don't forget Veterans Day November 11 probably observed November 12th this year)

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Copied and sent to everyone on my list.  Thank you JB and SP.

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                         Got me with that one SP; must be dust in my eye.  Going to send both to my local paper to share with others.  Might have to take a copy to Golden Corral Monday when I go to eat with my Dad. He was Army Artillery Korean War era. My favorite day of the year getting to talk to vets past and present, peacetime and wartime. Hard to find a better bunch except of course for here.

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Don't arrest me--it is far too beautiful to not share. I copied it and posted (without pics) on another site. In the AM I will email tit to family and friends.

 

Thank you----super -- enjoyable and sad!

http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

Song written by soldier in Iraq.  Give it a listen and respond here.

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              SP- bless you brother for including that link to the song. Me and my wife were both misty eyed. Please everyone please check this out! Please forward it to others.

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