A Poem
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 dweling did
live
I looked all around a strange site to
see
No tinsel, no presents, not even a
tree
No stockings on the mantle just boots filled
with sand
On the wall hung pictures of far
distant lands
Medals and Badges, Awards every
kind
A sobering thought came alive in my
mind
This house was different, it was
dark, it was deary
I had found the home of a
soldier
I could see that most clearly
The soldier lie sleeping, silent, alone
Curled up on the floor in this one
bedroom home
His face was so gentle, the room in
such disorder
Not at all 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
Then I realized the other families
that I saw on this night
Hold their lives to soldiers, who are
willing to fight
In the morning around the
world, the children would play
Grown-ups would celebrate a bright
Christmas Day
But they all enjoy freedom each
month of the year
Because of soldiers like the one lying
here
I couldn't help but wonder, how many
lay alone?
On a cold Christmas Eve in lands far
from home
The very thought brought a tear to my
eye
I dropped to my knees and I
started to cry
The soldier awakened, I heard his
ruff 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
core
The soldier rolled over and drifted to
sleep
But I couldn't control it and I
continued to weep
I kept watch for hours... so silent and
still
as both of us shivered from the cold
nights chill
I didn't want to leave him on that cold
dark night
This guardian of honor, so willing to
fight
then the soldier rolled over with a
voice soft and pure
He whispered Carry on Santa, it's
Christmas Day...
...all secure One look at my watch
and I knew he was right
Merry Christmas my friend, may God
Bless you this night
A Poem
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 dweling did
live
I looked all around a strange site to
see
No tinsel, no presents, not even a
tree
No stockings on the mantle just boots filled
with sand
On the wall hung pictures of far
distant lands
Medals and Badges, Awards every
kind
A sobering thought came alive in my
mind
This house was different, it was
dark, it was deary
I had found the home of a
soldier
I could see that most clearly
The soldier lie sleeping, silent, alone
Curled up on the floor in this one
bedroom home
His face was so gentle, the room in
such disorder
Not at all 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
Then I realized the other families
that I saw on this night
Hold their lives to soldiers, who are
willing to fight
In the morning around the
world, the children would play
Grown-ups would celebrate a bright
Christmas Day
But they all enjoy freedom each
month of the year
Because of soldiers like the one lying
here
I couldn't help but wonder, how many
lay alone?
On a cold Christmas Eve in lands far
from home
The very thought brought a tear to my
eye
I dropped to my knees and I
started to cry
The soldier awakened, I heard his
ruff 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
core
The soldier rolled over and drifted to
sleep
But I couldn't control it and I
continued to weep
I kept watch for hours... so silent and
still
as both of us shivered from the cold
nights chill
I didn't want to leave him on that cold
dark night
This guardian of honor, so willing to
fight
then the soldier rolled over with a
voice soft and pure
He whispered Carry on Santa, it's
Christmas Day...
...all secure One look at my watch
and I knew he was right
Merry Christmas my friend, may God
Bless you this night