A Soldier's Christmas
Taliesin_2

Sat Dec 11 16:12:27 1999
I don't know who wrote it, but you know please let me know so I can let others know. Thanks. ( copied from Email )*p**br*---*br*TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,*br* HE LIVED ALL ALONE,*br* IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF*br* PLASTER AND STONE.*p* I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY*br* WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,*br* AND TO SEE JUST WHO*br* IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.*p*I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,*br* A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,*br*NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,*br* NOT EVEN A TREE.*p* NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,*br* JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,*br* ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES*br* OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.*p* WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,*br* AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,*br*A SOBER THOUGHT*br* CAME THROUGH MY MIND.*p* FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,*br* IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,*br* I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,*br* ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.*p* THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,*br* SILENT, ALONE,*br* CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR*br* IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.*p* THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,*br* THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,*br* NOT HOW I PICTURED*br* A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.*p*WAS THIS THE HERO*br* OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?*br*CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,*br* THE FLOOR FOR A BED?*p* I REALIZED THE FAMILIES*br* THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,*br* OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS*br* WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.*p* SOON ROUND THE WORLD,*br* THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,*br* AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE*br* A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.*p* THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM*br* EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,*br* BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,*br* LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.*p* I COULDN'T HELP WONDER*br*HOW MANY LAY ALONE,*br*ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE*br* IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.*p* THE VERY THOUGHT*br*BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,*br* I DROPPED TO MY KNEES*br* AND STARTED TO CRY.*p*THE SOLDIER AWAKENED*br*AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,*br* "SANTA DON'T CRY,*br* THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;*p* I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,*br* I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,*br* MY LIFE IS MY GOD,*br*MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."*p*THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER*br*AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,*br* I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,*br* I CONTINUED TO WEEP.*p* I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,*br* SO SILENT AND STILL*br*AND WE BOTH SHIVERED*br*FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.*p* I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE*br* ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,*br* THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR*br* SO WILLING TO FIGHT.*p* THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,*br* WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,*br* WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,*br* IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."*p*ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,*br* AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.*br* "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,*br* AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."