Posted by nancyc on November 02, 2001 at 17:58:15:
Night Before Christmas 2001
> > >
> > > '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,
> > > AND ON THE WALL PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
> > >
> > > WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
> > >
> > > A SOBERING THOUGHT CAME TO MY MIND.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, SO DARK AND SO DREARY,
> > > THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, NOW 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 SOON 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 EVENING'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 Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan.
> > >
> > > 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 U.S. servicemen and women for our being able to celebrate
> > >