Post by maxama10 on Nov 19, 2006 1:23:24 GMT -5
I was asked to pass this on and think it is worth everyones time to read. Thanks
A Different Christmas Poem
>>>>
>>>> The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
>>>> I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
>>>> My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
>>>> My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
>>>> Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
>>>> Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
>>>> The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
>>>> Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
>>>> My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
>>>> Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
>>>> In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
>>>> So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
>>>>
>>>> The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
>>>> But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
>>>> Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
>>>> Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the
>>>> snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
>>>> And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
>>>> Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
>>>> A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
>>>>
>>>> A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
>>>> Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
>>>> Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
>>>> Standing watch over me, and my wife and my
>>>> child. "What are you doing?" I asked without
>>>> fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
>>>> Put down your pack, brush the snow from your
>>>> sleeve, You should be at home on a cold
>>>> Christmas Eve!"
>>>>
>>>> For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
>>>> Away from the cold and the snow blown in
>>>> drifts. To the window that danced with a
>>>> warm fire's light, Then he sighed and he said
>>>> "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm
>>>> here every night."
>>>> "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
>>>> That separates you from the darkest of times.
>>>> No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm
>>>> proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
>>>> My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
>>>> Then he sighed, "that's a Christmas 'Gram
>>>> always remembers." My dad stood his watch
>>>> in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn
>>>> and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in
>>>> more than a while, But my wife sends me
>>>> pictures, he's sure got her smile.
>>>>
>>>> Then he bent and he carefully pulled from
>>>> his bag, The red, white, and blue ... an American flag.
>>>> I can live through the cold and the being alone,
>>>> Away from my family, my house and my home. I
>>>> can stand at my post through the rain and the
>>>> sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
>>>> I can carry the weight of killing another,
>>>> Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
>>>> Who stand at the front against any and all,
>>>> To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
>>>>
>>>> "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
>>>> Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
>>>>
>>>> "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
>>>> "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a
>>>> feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done,
>>>> For being away from your wife and your son."
>>>>
>>>> Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
>>>> "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
>>>> To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
>>>> To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
>>>> For when we come home, either standing or dead,
>>>> To know you remember we fought and we bled.
>>>> Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
>>>> That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
>>>> * * * * *
>>>> 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 US 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
>>>> 30th Naval Construction Regiment
>>>> OIC, Logistics Cell One
>>>> Al Taqqadum, Iraq
A Different Christmas Poem
>>>>
>>>> The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
>>>> I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
>>>> My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
>>>> My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
>>>> Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
>>>> Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
>>>> The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
>>>> Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
>>>> My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
>>>> Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
>>>> In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
>>>> So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
>>>>
>>>> The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
>>>> But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
>>>> Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
>>>> Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the
>>>> snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
>>>> And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
>>>> Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
>>>> A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
>>>>
>>>> A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
>>>> Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
>>>> Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
>>>> Standing watch over me, and my wife and my
>>>> child. "What are you doing?" I asked without
>>>> fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
>>>> Put down your pack, brush the snow from your
>>>> sleeve, You should be at home on a cold
>>>> Christmas Eve!"
>>>>
>>>> For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
>>>> Away from the cold and the snow blown in
>>>> drifts. To the window that danced with a
>>>> warm fire's light, Then he sighed and he said
>>>> "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm
>>>> here every night."
>>>> "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
>>>> That separates you from the darkest of times.
>>>> No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm
>>>> proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
>>>> My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
>>>> Then he sighed, "that's a Christmas 'Gram
>>>> always remembers." My dad stood his watch
>>>> in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn
>>>> and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in
>>>> more than a while, But my wife sends me
>>>> pictures, he's sure got her smile.
>>>>
>>>> Then he bent and he carefully pulled from
>>>> his bag, The red, white, and blue ... an American flag.
>>>> I can live through the cold and the being alone,
>>>> Away from my family, my house and my home. I
>>>> can stand at my post through the rain and the
>>>> sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
>>>> I can carry the weight of killing another,
>>>> Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
>>>> Who stand at the front against any and all,
>>>> To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
>>>>
>>>> "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
>>>> Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
>>>>
>>>> "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
>>>> "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a
>>>> feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done,
>>>> For being away from your wife and your son."
>>>>
>>>> Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
>>>> "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
>>>> To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
>>>> To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
>>>> For when we come home, either standing or dead,
>>>> To know you remember we fought and we bled.
>>>> Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
>>>> That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
>>>> * * * * *
>>>> 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 US 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
>>>> 30th Naval Construction Regiment
>>>> OIC, Logistics Cell One
>>>> Al Taqqadum, Iraq