General Chat

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 soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps British, 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 Grand Father died at 'Normandy on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Grandad always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in that Korean Land',
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,
Something red, white and blue ... a Union Jack 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 trench 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, "harbour 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."




I don't know where this originated yet, but will add an acknowledgement when I do. I had it in an e-mail today.

Love

Daff xxx

particularly poignant given the news this evening on cut backs , Daff'....Thanks for putting it on the board as a reminder to us all .

Rosexxxxx

What a lovely poem a reminder to us of the sacrifices that was made for us all. Thanks for that

Norah

This was sent to my hubby by one of the soldiers he worked with.

She has recently returned from her second tour in Iraq, and will be off to Afghanistan next year for the second time.

It brought me up short when I read it.

Love

Daff xxx

http://www.vietvet.org/mmsolchr.htm

Thank you for that Felicity... we did wonder if it was an American verse that had been adapted. The sentiment is still the same for me, though.

It is so close to home for me.

love

Daff xxx

You're welcome, Daff. :-)

That is lovely. Wish I had had it to print out and pass to our soldiers parading in Norwich this last week. Would I be infringing on anyone's copyright if I sent it in to the letters page of our local paper? There was a write up of the parade in this evening's paper.
LIz

ooooh! Daff I have just read this and it has started me off sniffing! That was so beautiful!


Susan
x

Thanks Daff..........................a beautiful poem.

xx

This is the kind of thing should be nudged not all the trivia that seems to be . . . .

Not long logged on, so not sure what has been happening.

Liz, I have pm'd you.

It is a beautiful poem, and very thought provoking at this time of year.

It was written by a Veteran of the Vietnam war, I believe. My husband has found out the details, and I will edit my post as soon as he gets in.

Love

Daff xxx

beautiful,powerful and very emotional.

Bunny x

so nice Daff, makes you think.
I work for a local English speaking paper out here and we did an article this week about sending money, letters & parcels to our boys out in Iraq and Afghanistan so I will forward this to my editor for our next issue to go with the results of how much we have collected.

Lesley in Spain x

Thought I would nudge this up, in support of Chris's thread.

Love

Daff xxx

Another nudge as it was dear to her heart

nudge