A holiday poem...

[P89]

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 a drift.
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 and fight the good fight,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before.
They taught us how to protect our great shore.

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.'


LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction
Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum

[PA Rifleman]

Nice, thanks for sharing that.

[P89]

Thank you Rifleman. Nobody else better give me a rep for this, it's not why it was posted. Want to make me happy, buy a toy and drop it off for the Marines. Better yet, If you see someone in uniform this Holiday season shake their hand, give them a hug...If she's cute give her a kiss. Whatever you do let them know they have your RESPECT!

[thirtyonebravo]

from a few years ago:

Twas The Night Before Layoffs ~ By Phil Bowdren

Twas the night before layoffs, and all through City Hall,
Mayor Street and his minions were having a ball.
The Pink Slips were sent out, before Christmas Day,
Because the city workers, he did not want to pay.

With Goldsmith in his kerchief, and Street in his cap,
Just wanted to give, the unions some more of their crap.
When out in the courtyard there arose such a clatter,
Street called the Police Chief, to see what was the matter.

Away to his window John flew like a flash,
And gazed on the street, all piled high with trash.
The moon on the breast of the garbage piled high,
Had an odor so bad, it just made me cry.

When what to my wondering eyes did I see,
But a red fire engine, and a crew of just three.
Fires were burning, and people were sick,
But Street just continued to be a big prick.

More rapid than eagles, the F.B.I. came,
Planted their bugs, but it all was in vain.
Yes they caught the City Treasurer, and a lawyer or two,
But our slippery old Mayor, managed to slip through.

From Billy Penn’s hat, to the Franklin Mills Mall,
The people were crying, John Street to Recall.
With letters and petitions, the people did try,
To send John Street packing, to tell him Good Bye!

They went to City Council and the Governor too,
Who wrote back and said, ‘What you want me to do?
I left you a surplus, for that I have proof,
But you dummies all voted, and elected this goof.?

We can build a new ball park, the money he found,
But to pay Cops and Firemen, not a dollar was around.
The Mayor and his staff, had offices so neat,
But the poor City workers had nothing to eat.

My brother named Milton, a job I will find,
After all he is family, I’m sure you won’t mind.
I once was a scofflaw, parking tickets I didn’t pay,
But I’m now Philly’s Mayor, so what can I say.

I can’t run again, I’m a lame duck you see,
So no matter what, you can’t do nothing to me.
I can bankrupt the City, make the businesses flee,
I’ll just raise your taxes, makes no difference to me.

Some people may die, and the City might fail,
But the Feds will never put my sorry ol’ butt in jail.
I’ll speak not a word; the 5th Amendment should work,
They can’t put me in jail, just because I’m a jerk.

My name is John Street, Philly’s Mayor I am,
You used to eat steak, after me you’ll eat SPAM.
He got in his Towncar, to his driver gave a whistle,
And he drove from City Hall, like an ICBM missile.

And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
Happy layoffs to all, I’m off to A.C. tonight!

[thirtyonebravo]

great stuff by the way P89, thanks for sharing!

[P89]

Had to bring it back to the top.