The Soldier

[SASH]

THE SOLDIER
> > >
> > > '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 TO 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 DISORDER,
> > > NOT HOW I PICTURED A CANADIAN 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 SOLDIERS 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
> > > AS 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."
> > >
> > >
> > > This poem was written by a Peace keeping soldier stationed > > > overseas.
The
> > > following is his request. I think it is reasonable
> > >
> > > PLEASE.
> > > Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as
you
> > can?
> > > Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our > > > Canadian
> > service
> > > men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
> > > Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
> > > Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who
> sacrificed
> > > themselves for us.
> > > Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

 

[Jinglebob]

Very good!

 

[nr]

I was careful to send it to all our Democrat friends!

 

[feeder]

Thankyou for posting this poem!! I bet many on this board have a friend or loved one that is serving their country with pride and dignity!!!

 

[fedup2]

This is an excellent poem no matter who wrote it. It has been the subject of discussion for a long time. Seems a couple of people claim to be the author. Here is a little backround.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/s/soldierschristmas.htm
Anyway, thanks for posting it.

 

[fedup2]

Here is another poem that will get me misty eyed everytime I read it. I hope you enjoy it also.

Author Unknown

Her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
And she couldn't wait to go.

But her Mommy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
She knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called,
A student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
For a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,
As she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories
He taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
And ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,
Even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
Her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
Of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
He's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
But heaven's just too far.

You see he was a fireman
And died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
And taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
And saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement,
She witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,
Who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy,"
To the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
Of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed,
if only for a moment,
By the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing,
That heaven is never too far

 

[Faster horses]

Awesome.

Thanks for sharing.