May I pass on something a little different. Peter > > >> >>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 ju st 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 Gramp s 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, and white ... an Canadian 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 mo ney," 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."