A Soldier's Christmas

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 eye 
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"

"Its 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 sisters and brothers,
 who stand at the front
against any and all, 
to insure 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 

Written by
Michael Parks
copyright © 2000

Michael wrote:
I was thinking about our servicemen overseas this Holiday Season and wrote the following in hope of bringing a small bit of Christmas cheer to active 
duty and veterans alike ... just a humble thanks 
and "God Bless."