Santa's lament for the soldier.

[General Mayhem]

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE

 

'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 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 SOBERING 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 SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED,

A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ,

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

 

I REALISED 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 GROWN-UPS WOULD CELEBRATE,

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

 

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM,

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,

HOW MANY 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 SAT AND SHIVERED,

FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE,

ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR,

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

 

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA, ITS CHRISTMAS, 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.

 

PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE, TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.

 

LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE.

 

 

 

 

 

M JENG

Lt Col

HQ APHCS SO1 Rehab

2959(94261)

 

 

[Tony B]

there are 2 poems like this doing the rounds. If this is a quite way of drawing attention to military personnel on duty, go for it. The author deserves recognition.

[LeeEnfield]

Great Words,............

 

Can it not be sent to those living in luxury in Downing St. :whistle: