A Soldier's Christmas Poem for the Veterans and Active Duty on c.c

[Blackhawk19]

A Soldier's 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 breathing 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 eye 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 freezing 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 "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"

"Its 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 is 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... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the 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 with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure 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 all right."
"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're 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 you mattered to us.

By Michael Marks, Christmas 2000

[CRoberts]

Merry Christmas Blackhawk19 and thank you and every man or woman that has donned a uniform in times of war and in times of peace to protect and serve our nation. Keep those men in women in our prayers, whether they are home or abroad, and pray that they are able to come home safely to those they love soon.

[Fatman]

Excellent!!!!!!!!! Thank you

[lowe rider]

This is a great reminder of a gift so many of us take for granted. Thank you and all who served.

[Billbob]

good 1

[skeetbum]

Excellent!!

[hunter7711]

Very good!!

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[Luvfatslabs]

Thanks for sharing

[short grub]

truer words could not of been spoken

thanks to all of our American heros present and past

I as a son born in olive drab diapers to a man and woman in the United States Army for 26 years, know all to well what its like to have your father gone fighting somewhere in some war that I had little knowledge of, wondering if my dad was alive or dead and just what he was doing at that moment.

When he came home after his fourth trip to war (SouthKorea1 tour and 3 in south vietnam) I ask him if he was going back? He said no, that what he had done was enough service to his country, at first I didnt understand and thought he was afraid, but as Ive grown these past 45 years and learned of how our troops were treated after that war, it makes me wonder why anyone would fight for people who act like they dont appreciate or understand what was done for them.

We all hate the idea of war and as bad as wars are we have to fight them if we want to keep the things we love, "freedom" so always say thank you to our troops they and their families give up alot during such times so that we may be free and safe.

Thank you all that serve this great country of OURS

ps: Thank you Blackhawk, what a great poem sir

[Mikie]

Thanks for that so many don't have a clue!