Hello All!   
      
   This poem was written by a Marine.   
      
     A CHRISTMAS POEM   
      
   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."   
      
       
   Regards,   
      
   Roger    
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna - (1:3828/7)