Quinte Fishing

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 MANTEL
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANCE LANDS

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGHT MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY
I FOUND A 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 SUCH DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A CANADIAN SOLDIER

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,THE FLOOR AS A BED
I RELIZED THE FAMILYS
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO ARE 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 LAYING 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 COUND'NT CONTROL IT
I CONTUINED TO WEEP

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL

I DIDN'T 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
WHIPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA
IT'S CHRISTMASDAY, ALL IS SECURE"

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT

This peom was written by a soldier stationed overseas
the following is his request. I think it is reasonable

PLEASE Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our Canadian service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Lets 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 themselfs for us. Please, do your small part to plant this seed


I had hard time fighting back tears when I read this....so this is My part ...GOD BLESS THE SOLDIERS FIGHTING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY
CANADIAN AND OUR U.S. NEIGHBOURS....MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANKS

Phil(Big-O)

_________________
BIG-O(Phil)<!!!!!><
SO MUCH WATER .....SO LITTLE TIME

Big-OThanks for sharing that. I live in an area with alot of CFB personnel and I know first hand they are not well paid and make many family sacrifices for our country.

Sorry to hear you wont be able to slip down for a last trip. On the bright side you had one heck of a fall season. Merry Xmas and good luck to you in the new year.

_________________
Dan Elliot - A bad day on Quinte is better than a good day at work !!!
http://www.quintefishing.com