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 U.S. 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

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I received the above in an e-mail and wanted to pass it on to everyone.  During this Christmas season when we are spending time with our families, I hope everyone will remember our military men and women who are away from their homes and families.  They are all forfeiting their Christmas holiday for us, and they need our prayers and support.  Thank you and Merry Christmas!

~ StinaLisa ~

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Merry Christmas Darling

The Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
A special one for you.

Merry Christmas darling
We're apart that's true
But I can dream and in my dreams
I'm Christmasing with you.

Holidays are joyful
There's always something new
But every day's a holiday
When I'm near to you.

All the lights on my tree
I wish you could see; I wish it every day
Logs on the fire fill me with desire
To see you and to say:

That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year, too
I've just one wish this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you.

All the lights on my tree; I wish you could see
I wish it every day
The logs on the fire fill me with desire
To see you and to say:

That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year, too
I've just one wish this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you.

I wish I were with you
I wish I were with you