OT~~~~A different christmas poem

[Guest guest]

" A Different Christmas Poem "

By Marks, December 2000

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 eyes 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 the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, 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 at 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 'Gram 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 the 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 sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure 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 held 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 will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us. "

Please feel free to pass this on. Marry Christmas to all. Happy

Hoildays. And a special " THANK YOU " if you are one of these people

who makes my life better.

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[Guest guest]

n,

Thanks for sending this out :-).

Holidays we need to remember there's more out there than just us. Men and

Women are out miles away from Home spending the Holidays in Enemy lines.

While we are safe in our Family's Arms. We all celebrate the Holidays same day

different times as the time zone passes by. Then a New Year to enjoy and the

families who missed a loved one may get to spend the next Holiday in their arms.

We pray no more will be coming home to a final resting place but for

Freedom they may. We hope all come home to stay so they may enjoy the Freedom

they fought for. Holidays bring times of Joy and Love but what is missed is

those times of Memories.

When I see a Solider I shake their hand and say Thanks for protecting us

out there. Always remember we do thank you for Our Freedom here. Some will

say well I am home now and enjoying Family time but next week I am shipping out

back to the war zone.

I never ask his or her name. I just see a face and sometimes their

Family. I also walk over to the Family and say Thanks for sparing your Loved

one

for Our Freedom. 1 Mom said I lost my Husband to the War. I am Proud of him. Th

ere's our Son in the War and I am so Proud of him too. A Mother's Love. Her

smile was all you needed to see.

If at anytime you wonder about the War look around and see we can go

anywhere without a Road check to find out where we are going. We can enjoy Our

Freedom. Our Kid's can go to School and Learn what they need to Learn. We are

Privileged and some take this for Granted.

Tim McGraw has a song out " If your reading this I am already Home. Good

song to listen to.

If anyone in this Group has a Soldier out in the War. I want to say Thanks

as many forget to say Thanks for sharing your Loved one. May You have a Special

Christmas when they get Home.

Robbin and

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