A Digger's Christmas

Discussion in 'World War 2' started by Nostalgair, Dec 22, 2008.

  1. Nostalgair

    Nostalgair New Member

    Hi All,

    I was forwarded this from a retired veteran.

    I thought it may be an appropriate place to post it at his request.

    Regards,

    Owen



    This poem was written by an Australian soldier stationed in Iraq.

    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

    all 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.

    Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.




    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."
     
  2. John

    John Active Member

    What a great post. Just a wink and a nod towards the skies and a silent toast with a can of xxxx to let our fallen hero's know that we remember them.
     
  3. spidge

    spidge Active Member

    Great post Owen!

    People do forget that war is war and our men and women have to wage it. Why then do they only remember the Dresdens, or Hiroshima. Our Vietnam boys were ordered to go and they called them baby killers and spat on them when they came home.

    They all stand to defend us, whether on Land, Sea or in the Air so they should be honoured and remembered accordingly for the rest of their lives and ours.

    Saluted by me with a Vodka and Coke..............cheers!
     

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