A NEW CHRISTMAS POEM

[Barnacle Bill]

> 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. 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. Cause people to stop and think of our heroes, living and

> dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to

> plant this small seed.

>

> May God Bless You and Have A Great Day

>

>

>

[Cane Pole]

Very good.

[ET Fish]

Wow! I’ve got a big ol lump in my throat.

["G"]

Outstanding

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[crappie flash]

One very nice read.

[PawPaw Gene]

Touching, being a non veteran it's hard for me to sometimes imagine the hardships that our military men and women have to endure so that we can be safe and free. So many have given up everything, even their lives, for the sake of our country and yet we see those who think they are doing a service to their fellow man by disrespecting our flag. I think the punishment for doing so should be one year in one of these countries where there are no such freedoms. Where your words or actions are held against you sometime to the point of death. To a place where when you lay down you head at night there is no guarantee that you will have a peaceful nights sleep. We own so much to our veterans past and present, so much that there is no way that we can repay them for there service but the one thing we can do is to at least pray for them and respect our flag which they live and fight under.

The other night while Linda and I were out eating, the fella sitting at the table across from us got up to leave and saw the flag pin on my hat. He came up to me and asked if I was a Vet because he wanted to thank me for my service. I had to confess that I wasn't a Vet but thanked him for joining with me in thanking all Vets for their service. The least I can do is proudly wear that flag pin to let the world know I care.

May God Bless them all and God Bless the USA.

"gene"

[skeetbum]

A very good read and a good reminder of the many things that our Vets endure for us. God Bless them one and all.

[Redge]

Very nice, puts things in perspective.


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[Retired2Fish]

Thank you for posting the poem!! Let's enjoy and help preserve the freedoms that we have and always remember that these freedoms were not free.