A Different
Christmas Story
"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
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
roller 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 stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
The
following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....PLEASE.
Would
you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can?
Christmas
will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.
service
men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's
try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make
people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead,
who
sacrificed themselves for us.
Please,
do you small part to plant this small seed.
compiled
by Debbie(Shadow)
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