A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

[Torog]

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 Marine, I puzzled, some twenty years old, All dressed in cammies, 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.

Torog Reviewed by Torog on 12-15-2005. A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM 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 Rating: 5

[Psycho4Bud]

Howdy Torog....
You got a good heart dude...don't ever loose it!!

VERY COOL!!! :thumbsup:

[Fengzi]

Great poem Torog. No matter what we might think of George Bush or the war in Iraq we all need to remember to support our troops 100%. There just doing their job and their the best at what they do

[bonton]

'Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man's war'

Steve Earle

[Torog]

Howdy Torog....
You got a good heart dude...don't ever loose it!!

VERY COOL!!! :thumbsup:

Howdy Psycho4Bud,

Thanx for yer kind words sir !

Have a good one !

[Torog]

Great poem Torog. No matter what we might think of George Bush or the war in Iraq we all need to remember to support our troops 100%. There just doing their job and their the best at what they do

Howdy Fengzi,

You're right-our troops do deserve 100% of our support,many have families and simply want others to be as blessed as they..which is why many have re-upped and insisted on going back to the front-lines.

Have a good one !

[Torog]

'Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man's war'

Steve Earle

Howdy bonton,

Folks that think the way you do,will never understand that 'poor boy's' don't fight for rich men-they fight for themselves and their family's and their country..as well as for the freedom of others,even un-grateful folks like you.

Have a good one....

[lemonboy]

which is why many have re-upped and insisted on going back to the front-lines.

Probably not the dead ones.

"Why don't Presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?" SOAD

I guess those US Army ads I'm always seeing with black kids in the projects are just a coincidence? And the one with the Mexicans in the very slummy apartment that is all in Spanish... Yeah, that one is my favorite.

Were you ever in the armed forces Torog?

[Torog]

Probably not the dead ones.

"Why don't Presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?" SOAD

I guess those US Army ads I'm always seeing with black kids in the projects are just a coincidence? And the one with the Mexicans in the very slummy apartment that is all in Spanish... Yeah, that one is my favorite.

Were you ever in the armed forces Torog?

Howdy lemonboy,

Yup..I was..were you ? If I could,I'd go back in again,but I'm too old and crippled now. Some presidents have fought in a war,before becoming CnC.

Alot of poor folks volunteer for the military,because it's a steady paycheck and because of the educational opportunities,rich kids don't have financial problems and have access to the best education,plus many are spoiled brats,that would never dream of doing something selfless.

I also feel that some of our best soldiers,are recent immigrants,who are actually grateful to live in America and are eager to give back to their new country,as opposed to un-grateful Americans who don't realize that America is the greatest country in the world.

You could change yer handle from "lemonboy" to "lemonman",if ya went into the military,it makes men and women,out of boys and girls,and ya git to see the world and do things you could never do as a civilian.

Have a good one ....

[lemonboy]

Where was I? It was a question, not an attack. I had never seen you talk about it and I figured that I would have by now. The military really isn't an option for me. It's out of my hands. I wouldn't fit anyway, I ask too many questions. I have no animosity towards servicemen and women. I have lived around them my entire life.

You're right... America is the greatest country in the world. I'm just not ready to beat people to death with lead piping when they don't happen to agree. If that makes me ungrateful, so be it.