christmas poem

[pete 1]

this has been a round awhile but never hurts to re-post


Christmas Poem
>
> 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.'
>
> This poem was written by a Marine.

[FireBassr]

[Bingle]

Thanks!!!

[lbkbassin]

Pretty cool, first time I've seen it

[billybass]

Hard to read with all this dust in the air at the Shipyard Pete, have to keep rubbing my eyes.

[Lea]

Me, too.....

[sheeterhdip225]

I've missed a couple of Christmas but it was just Sandra and Myself. Christmas is really for kids. Tks to all of you who have and those that are still in for a safe homecomming...

[BBBAC1]

Proud to be an American....I served myself and I salute those who are serving now....

[yostbilly]

nice,

[Just_Ken_In_Va]

Nice one Pete, I like this one too ....

Sailor's Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas a calm night at sea
We nestled in our racks for a Holiday Routine
When from the ventilation there came such a clatter
We jumped from our bunks to see what's the matter

When from the vent fell this big dust covered dude
He was dressed up in red with a bad attitude
Yelling, "Those ducts are all filthy!" as he brushed off his clothes
"Don't just damn stand there, where's the DCPO?"

He arose form the deck, then he peered all around
Then from his mouth came a bellowing sound
"This berthing's a disgrace!" then he called us by name
"Now Boatswain, Now Corpsman, please explain!"

This was not the Santa I remembered from youth
He smelled of cheap whiskey, he was rough and uncouth
"Now, look here you bastards" he said as he strolled
"You'd best trice this place up, or you'll get nothing but coal!"

"You'll make this space pretty, military, and neat!"
Then he looked down at our boots that lay right near his feat
"Well, what do we have here?" He said with a frown
"Who the hell polished these? Recruit 'Buster brown'?!"

He walked around slowly, he missed not a mark
He even spotted dust bunnies, right there in the dark!
"You've got high dust and low dust, and that overhead it needs cleaning!"
We all stood dumbfounded as his words kept on streaming

"Which man here is senior!?" Then asked St Nick
"You'd better shit me and answer…and SHIT ME ONE QUICK!
The First Class stepped forward, his heart pounding hard
"Now look right here shitbirds, this (edit)'s in charge!"

"These racks will be tight! This damn deck it will shine!
I don't want to hear bitching! I need not hear you whine!"
So we gathered our foxtales, our buckets, and swabs
We all worked all in silence to finish the job.

It took almost an hour finish our space
He just sat drinking coffee and stuffing his face
Then on re-inspection he explained with a huff
"Now this is more like it! Now your not so screwed up!"

We all stood there smiling, awaiting our gifts
But Santa just snapped out "What's the matter dumb-shits!?"
"Get back to your racks! This will be my last warning!
Just like on shore, the gifts come in the morning!"

It seemed like eternity until reveille sounded
We threw back our curtains as all our hearts pounded
But what were our gifts? For what did we suffer?
A pallet of rags and a shiny new buffer!

Attached to our new buffer, we found a short note
We all gathered 'round to see what he wrote
"Next year at Christmas, best have all your shit wired!"
Signed:
Fair Winds
S.C. Clause
BMCM(Retired)

Happy Holidays all !!!!