One for our Soldier Mel
Ronald Lawrence
I know it is early and I don't know who wrote it or when but with the
likelihood that the Afghan war will not be over before Christmas, here it is
for your enjoyment:
A CHRISTMAS POEM
'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,
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,
AND ON THE WALL PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBERING THOUGHT CAME TO MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, SO DARK AND SO DREARY,
THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, NOW 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 SUCH DISORDER,
NOT 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?
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 SOON 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 EVENING'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR 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."
Warm Regards,
Ron Lawrence, Canberra, ACT, Australia
MelvinFullerton
born to be a LIVING MAN--
The rarest of the rare in human births.
Dr.Munn the Head Librarian of a major
university had two of my books bound for
student use.He sdaid I was a very unique
working class man.That I not only understood my world but was capable of
writing about intellectually.
He said future historians will,for the first
time in hisdtory hasve a working man's
view of his life.They will love what you write so keep on writing--
One of my master degreed daughters has
my newspaper writings of 35 years--a few short stories-one novel--I have hear
in my
studio a 6,000 page Book the first of its
kind in format off this newsgroup-"My
World 1999-2000.She will Acquire this the next time she visits me.
I have been busy writing this book "The Lonely Island." for quite some time.
I have oil paintings in many countries; Quito,Ecuador--India-Catholic
Orphanage--
Germany--
I have apainted book of 34 paintings and the written stories--plus the rest of
the
book at the Chamber of Commerce in my hown town-"Childhood Revisted" of what
it wass like to grow up therte--
I also have over 300 oil paintings here in my studio--I just finished painting
a 22x28"
oil portrait of a little boy 12 months old who lived behind this house.
I have another painting of a little 14 months
little next door girl on my sketch board..
I dont see how you people can just simply stuff your guts and wait for your
funeral
when there is much enjoyment that can
be had by just letting your brains out of your
racist-bigotted-hatreds-prison--why
styay a prisoner for some one else wallet
and or political career benifit?
I didnt go in the Army an Idiot and come out an asskissing fool.I went for
adventure of war--and one personal reason--not because a loud mouth stay at
home Vietnam Military Deserter Cowardly president / cowardly draft dodger vice
president non elected coward waved a flag.
in my face.
They can buy heaven--but I can live heaven--my name will never leave this
planet-for what I have done with my life
in this free country that was from very humble beginnigs--what have you done
with your life to leave behind as a legacy?
I also raised ten excellent daughters most of them with one college degree
several with two or more--one son with two college defrees--one son retired
from the Nasvy atomic sub service as a senior petty officer.
I expect to paint at the age of 100 to be the oldest artist that ever lived.
Now you can say G'day old chappie.
The Lonely Island
melvin WW2 ETO Reg army DAV VFW Amer Leg DAV VFW Amer Leg 54 years union age 82
years