Posted on 12/06/2004 1:15:32 PM PST by CHARLITE
Edited on 12/07/2005 2:42:37 AM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
A Different Kind of Christmas
I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh,
And looked across the table where the bills were piled too high.
The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix,
My stocks were down another point, the Dolphins lost by six.
And so with only minutes till my son got home from school
I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool.
The burdens that I carried were about all I could take,
And so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.
I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust,
No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust.
And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh,
Eight Hummers ran a column right behind an M1A.
A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens.
Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean.
They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight,
Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.
Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind,
To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again.
There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease,
They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MREs.
They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see,
They didn't need an ornament-- they lacked a Christmas Tree.
They didn't have a present even though it was tradition,
The only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition."
I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side,
He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried.
I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near
And kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.
There's nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight,
Our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right,
To worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all,
Instead of wondering if we will be the next one to fall.
He looked at me as children do and said it's always right,
To thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write.
And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note,
To thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote:
God Bless You all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you are not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty ...and that we can't repay.
So God Bless all our heroes standing watch out there today,
From all of us that they make safe here in the Good old USA.
by Michael Marks
Very nice. Thanks for posting.
< sniffle sniffle >
Pingbump.
DANG IT SARGE - What about the HANKY ALERT!!!!?????
Bump
That's a keeper, Sarge ~ thanks for the ping!
Wonderful..God bless each member of our armed forces.
BTTT!!!!!!!
Oh Sarge, thanks for this pin!! WOW, what a poem.
Oh, Sarge, thanks for the ping to this poem. God bless our Troops.
to Barb Servello -
I don't know who you are nor do I particularly care, but what I do know is that your claim of authorship of this poem is a lie. I know this because I wrote it. It is actually titles "The Sands of Christmas" and it has appeared both in print and on the web countless times, to include "Stars and Stripes" and the International War Veterans Poetry Archives: http://www.iwvpa.net/marksm/the_sand.htm where a number of my other works are posted.
Y'know, if you want to be a poet, pick up a pen and write. If you want to share a nice poem, feel free to do so but at least have the decency not to steal credit for somebody else's work. I've worked very hard creating these tributes and do not appreciate plaguerists. If you are insistent in this sham and would like to compare notebooks with the countless sketches, drafts, etc. that I have in writing these, I'd be happy to oblige.
What is really sad is in making a false claim to draw attention away from those who really deserve it - our troops and their families.
Michael Marks
My Friend, none of us knew that poem had been Plagarized. I myself don't even know who Barb Servello is. Our only Intention was to Honor our Military, and we are very sorry that someone Plagarized your Work. Accept our Apologies for this Misunderstanding; we are sorry to have upset you. (And your Work is very, very Beautiful)
No problem at all Kitty, my rebuke was pointed solely at the person who claimed my work. I thank you most kindly for your gracious concern in this matter. I don't write these for the money and have given permission for countless gift-drives and such to include copies in packages sent overseas. I got a letter from one submariner who xeroxed a copy for every guy on his boat and handed them out on Christmas eve. The only thing I ask is that if they are passed around they go without edit to content or author, as they were intended. God bless to all who watch over us, and those who await their safe return. - Michael
(if a moderator could correct the errant attribution in the post above I would appreciate it - otherwise these things grow as people cut/paste in entirety without following a thread to find the correction. I would consider it a very kind favor.)
That is so Wonderful, my Friend! There is no doubt that your Beautiful Poems have been a Blessing to many.
May the Gracious God of Heaven Always Bless your Work, Patriot Poet, as you bring Comfort and Joy to many, as you have to us who Lovingly Appreciate your Work!
I am an elementary teacher who coaches UIL academic events. I would like for one of my students to read your poem for competition. The rules say that it must be published before we can read it. If you have published it in a newspaper or book, please let me know. It is an excellent reminder of what our freedom means! Please email my school address at debbie.hagood@netxv.net
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