T'WAS 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 DISORDER,

 

NOT HOW I PICTURED,

 

AN AUSTRALIAN 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 DID NOT 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."

 

This poem was written by an Australian Peacekeeping soldier stationed

overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable

 

 

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can?

Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the 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.

Thanks Neat for posting this.

thats great neat. i suppose when we are opening our presents on christmas morning we are not thinking how much pain and sorrow these people are going through. the amazing thing is the soliders do it for us as a contry to lift up our hearts in hope. they are truly insprirational to us all and i am very greatfull :hi: thanks neat you have made us all wake up and know what others are doing for us. the worlds not such a selfish world after all if you just look through the tiny cracks of hope.

 

xxElisexx

I have read thie before it always brings tears to my eyes along with pride in my heart for our countriesmen. Thank you Neat for reminding us how special they are this time of year.

Its good to know people still admire and support family members in the service of this great country. Thanks neat.

Oh my gosh Neat that so wasn't what I was expecting when I opened this thread. As a defence wife I am glad to have my hubby home with me this christmas (well hopefully on this coming Friday anyway), but next year he heads off overseas on a ship and we know he will miss both the boys birthdays and there is always the possibility he may not get home in time for christmas. It is a tough time of year if you don't get to come back to 'Civy street' for chrissy with your family and I hope all those who are missing loved ones overseas have them home very soon.

You are all welcome, Army, Navy, and the RAAF are important to me after loosing family members - and have family members in the Army and RAAF so it is close to my heart.....

 

Just makes us all think - Not everything is free as some have paid with their life for what we have .

 

So to all those family waiting for their loved ones ... My Christmas wish is for their safe return .... and thank you ....