A Christmas Poem

[buzzking]

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. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who
sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your
small part to plant this small seed.

[mhall]

That's a keeper.

[Bonefish]

Thanks for sharing.

[BanditMan]

Salute to all Veterans, past and present.

[Boat Bums]

This is so True!!! We come home there is no war. Things here does not make since. You do things for a reason or some die. We don't understand way we came home and others did not. We do it for something you people take for granted. It is part of our being. I have been home since 94. I still only sleep alittle a time. I only find peace out away from people. Some say that i'm bitter and hateful!!!!

Try to remember we are not the same person that left and may never find our way back. Don't offer help for a problem that you do not understand. Don't ask trying to understand because you havn't earned the right. Please give us our space and if you are lucky enough that you soilder finds their way back to you. Place hand on their back and say nothing. We know and Thank You.

[WIZARD]

Amen, brought a tear to my eye, Thanks to all past and present service members who have helped make this a blessed holiday season. We will always keep you in our prayers.

[Dakota Kid]

Merry Christmas and Semper Fi to all the vets. From one Marine to all the vets in the world. My family and love ones are safe and secure because of a life choice. Thank you.

[bassin_bug]

This is so True!!! We come home there is no war. Things here does not make since. You do things for a reason or some die. We don't understand way we came home and others did not. We do it for something you people take for granted. It is part of our being. I have been home since 94. I still only sleep alittle a time. I only find peace out away from people. Some say that i'm bitter and hateful!!!!

Try to remember we are not the same person that left and may never find our way back. Don't offer help for a problem that you do not understand. Don't ask trying to understand because you havn't earned the right. Please give us our space and if you are lucky enough that you soilder finds their way back to you. Place hand on their back and say nothing. We know and Thank You.

My sweet in-law was sent first to Afghanistan then Iraq. He came home a few months ago and is so different, suffering severely from PTSD. He wasn't given the space and understanding he needed to even begin to recover; instead he was sent straight to a base and began training more soldiers for battle. A sudden loud noise sends his mind back to Iraq. I hold a Ph.D in Psychology and he called me, a bitter sound in his voice but he only wanted to talk to someone he thought would understand. I asked if I could take my favorite soldier to lunch and he said he would love that. I got dressed in a hurry and drove 125 miles, one way, and met him for lunch. I sat there and looked at a pitiful emotional wreck, unable to verbalize his feelings and yet he was confused and hurting so badly. I didn't mention the war or ask anything relative to his military career, I just listened for two hours as he poured out every frustrating hurtful thing that was embedded in his once brilliant mind. I offered no advice for his personal problems, he didn't ask for that, he wanted someone who understood and cared how much he was hurting. His mother didn't, his wife didn't, his sister didn't; he said nobody cared and he came home and found he was penniless. I tried to understand and maybe, just maybe, I gave him a tiny glimmer of hope. As we parted he asked for a hug and I gave him a huge, very long bear hug and slipped a bank envelope in his hand with enough money to pay his bills for a month. I looked again and the tears were pouring down his cheeks; I wiped them away and kissed his still damp cheek and said, "Thanks for all you've given for my freedom and my country. I love you and I care what's going on in your life. If you ever need to talk, give me a call." He said, "Thanks," and walked away. I knew deep in my soul that his marriage was over and I might never see him again. I've had two calls and a few emails from him since that time and he is getting better but I don't know how long his road to recovery may be.

To all the military people reading this, past and present, THANKS! and Merry Christmas.

[DJD]

A great reminder, I thank the Veterans whenever possible.

[Boat Bums]

14 years since I was there it only a little better. We have to find our way back in due time. Some family and friends are the best help. With other just give them time. Try to help with out being pushy.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Your best post ever Buzz, thanks for sharing. Each and every one of us owe the soldiers past and present for the freedom that we all take for granted, including myself.