Posted by: _Hollywood_ on November 27, 2003 at 15:21:58

A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS 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 night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Stood shivering and shaking, 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 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, "It's really all right. I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's 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 'Gran 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 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 or 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 had 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 trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us." (Author Unknown) This is dedicated to all of our men and women in the United States Military.

Follow Ups: Re: A Soldier's Christmas (OT) Mike / DBD 20:06:07 12/18/03 (0) Re: A Soldier's Christmas (OT) Shelly "yougotpunk_dbyagirl" Barton 18:45:27 12/01/03 (1) Re: A Soldier's Christmas (OT) _Hollywood_ 12:34:29 12/03/03 (0) Re: A Soldier's Christmas (OT) dave "_dave__from_the_coalition" ciarcia 15:31:41 12/01/03 (0) Post a Followup Show your name as: DefaultRealnameBothNickname E-Mail address (eg: joeschmoe@aol.com): Show your e-mail address? DefaultYesNo Your Password: Don't have a password? CLICK HERE - Forgot your password? CLICK HERE Subject: Subject:Message: : A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS : 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 night, : A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. : A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, : Stood shivering and shaking, 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 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, "It's really all right. : I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." : "It's 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 'Gran 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 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 or 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 had 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 trust, : That we mattered to you as you mattered to us." : (Author Unknown) : This is dedicated to all of our men and women in the United States Military. [ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ WARPIG Rec Talk ]