SANTA`S SOLDIER

In memory of those that we have lost and those still fighting.
sent in by Edward Penticost.

T`WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE XMAS
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 DID I SEE,
NO TINSEL,NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKINGS BY THE 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 DISORDER,
NOT HOW I HAD PICTURED,
A PEACE KEEPING 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 DONT CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE,

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DONT 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 NIGHTS CHILL,

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,
THE GUARDIAN OH HONOUR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED,,CARRY ON SANTA,
ITS 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