Posted By: on: 11/21/2000 01:03:03 ESTSubject: Our Veterans
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| Posted By: on: 11/21/2000 01:03:03 EST Subject: Our Veterans |
> > > 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." |
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