Since it is the holiday season I wanted to share with you a holiday poem I heard on the radio in Detroit last year around this time.
Written by former Marine Corporal James M. Schmidt, in 1986 when stationed in Washington D.C., it was pounded out on a typewriter while awaiting the commanding officer's Christmas holiday decoration inspection. It was originally title "Merry Christmas, My Friend", and was an instant success that reportedly brought tears to the eyes of the barracks Commander who ordered it distributed to everyone he knew.It has an even stronger meaning for me this year, being in Iraq during the holidays. Enjoy!
The poem was recorded as a tribute by Father Ted Berndt, a former Marine and World War II Purple Heart recipient.
A Soldier's Silent Night
(right click to save mp3)
'Twas 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,
To See Just Who
In This Dwelling Did Live.
I Looked All Around
A Strange Sight To See,
No Tinsel, No Presents,
Not Even A Tree.
No Stocking From The Mantle,
Just Boots Filled With Sand,
On The Wall Hung Pictures
Of Far Distant Lands.
With Medals And Badges,
Awards Of Every Kind,
A Sobering Thought Came Alive In My Mind
This House Was Different,
It Was Dark, It Was Dreary,
I Have Found The Home Of A Soldier,
I Can See That Most Clearly.
The Soldier Lay Sleeping,
Silent, Alone
Curled Up On The Floor
In This One Bedroom Home.
His Face Was So Gentle,
The Room In Such Disorder,
Not At All How I Pictured
A United States Soldier.
Was This The Hero
Of Whom I'd Just Read?
Curled Up On A Poncho,
The Floor For A Bed?
Then I Realized The Other Families
That I Saw This Night,
Owned Their Lives To Soldiers
Who Were Willing To Fight.
From The Morning Round The World,
The Children Would Play,
Grownups Would Celebrate
A Bright Christmas Day.
But They All Enjoyed Freedom
Each Month Of The Year,
Because Of Soldiers,
Like The One Lying Here.
But I Couldn't Help But Wonder
How Many Lay Alone,
On A Cold Christmas Eve
In Lands Far From Home.
The Very Thought
Brought A Tear To My Eye,
I Dropped To My Knees
And Started To Cry.
The Soldier Awakened
I Heard His 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,
But I Couldn't Control It,
And I Continued To Weep.
I Kept Watch For Hours,
So Silent And Still
As Both Of Us Shivered
From The Cold Night's Chill.
I Didn't Want To Leave Him
On That Cold, Dark, Night,
This Guardian Of Honor
So Willing To Fight.
Then The Soldier Rolled Over,
In A Voice Soft And Pure,
He Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."
One Look At My Watch,
I Knew He Was Right.
"Merry Christmas My Friend,
May God Bless You This Night."
(right click to save mp3)
'Twas 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,
To See Just Who
In This Dwelling Did Live.
I Looked All Around
A Strange Sight To See,
No Tinsel, No Presents,
Not Even A Tree.
No Stocking From The Mantle,
Just Boots Filled With Sand,
On The Wall Hung Pictures
Of Far Distant Lands.
With Medals And Badges,
Awards Of Every Kind,
A Sobering Thought Came Alive In My Mind
This House Was Different,
It Was Dark, It Was Dreary,
I Have Found The Home Of A Soldier,
I Can See That Most Clearly.
The Soldier Lay Sleeping,
Silent, Alone
Curled Up On The Floor
In This One Bedroom Home.
His Face Was So Gentle,
The Room In Such Disorder,
Not At All How I Pictured
A United States Soldier.
Was This The Hero
Of Whom I'd Just Read?
Curled Up On A Poncho,
The Floor For A Bed?
Then I Realized The Other Families
That I Saw This Night,
Owned Their Lives To Soldiers
Who Were Willing To Fight.
From The Morning Round The World,
The Children Would Play,
Grownups Would Celebrate
A Bright Christmas Day.
But They All Enjoyed Freedom
Each Month Of The Year,
Because Of Soldiers,
Like The One Lying Here.
But I Couldn't Help But Wonder
How Many Lay Alone,
On A Cold Christmas Eve
In Lands Far From Home.
The Very Thought
Brought A Tear To My Eye,
I Dropped To My Knees
And Started To Cry.
The Soldier Awakened
I Heard His 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,
But I Couldn't Control It,
And I Continued To Weep.
I Kept Watch For Hours,
So Silent And Still
As Both Of Us Shivered
From The Cold Night's Chill.
I Didn't Want To Leave Him
On That Cold, Dark, Night,
This Guardian Of Honor
So Willing To Fight.
Then The Soldier Rolled Over,
In A Voice Soft And Pure,
He Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."
One Look At My Watch,
I Knew He Was Right.
"Merry Christmas My Friend,
May God Bless You This Night."
2 comments:
I love that song. They have been playing Christmas Music since the day after Halloween on 100.3 - you know the one that has that pillowtalk guy "Alan Alman" at night...but anyways everytime i hear this song i get choked up. I have been reading your blog and keeping up on things. I am glad things are going well. I have been sick since just before thanksgiving - i have pneumonia - i have been off work now for a week and a half - thank goodness we had the thanksgiving holiday in there - i only missed 5 days of work. Well we miss you here - be safe! Love ya
Thanks Bethanie. I hope you get well soon.
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