Just got this mailed to me and had to share.> > 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 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.> So that your family can sleep without fright. > 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."> > Season's Greetings> This is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL Yule poem from one of my listservs ForestMoonGrove@yahoogroups.com. Just wanted to share it all with you. Please remember our troops this time of year... Myspace Graphics