Just A Christmas Poem

[JohnnyDos]

I couldn't get the pics to show.Just a Santa Claus But the poem is the main thing.    This is a wonderful poem....Please read. ----- Forwarded Message -----   >  T'WAS 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 DISORDER, >  >  NOT HOW I PICTURED, >  >  A TRUE U.S. 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 DID NOT 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 Peacekeeping 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 all of the >  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. > >  >