Joined
·
1,932 Posts
Remember!
*
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
*
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