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,
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 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 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 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."
USAF
Lt Col Bruce Lovely wrote this poem Christmas Eve 1993
while assigned to US Forces Korea.
(Printed in the Fort Leavenworth Lamp, 1995)