The following is a work in progress, I wrote the first draft back on Christmas Day 1993, the day I lost my faith in the world. I was a Sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy deployed under the U.N flag to Haiti during the attempted Military Coup. Every Year since I have pulled this writing out and revised it. Now I know some people will read this and say they have seen it or a similar writing on the internet or a local paper. But I did write this in 1993 and it was published on the HMCS Providers routine orders. So I do have proof that I wrote the original draft in 1993. In 1999 or 2000 I saw another writing very similar to mine in an email that had been writen by an American serviceman while spending his Christmas over seas.
So, without much more pre-amble, this is dedicated to those who came before me, those I served with, those that came after me, and those yet to come.
It was the night before Christmas,
in some far off distant land,
I was making my rounds,
Under the stars
for a brake I did stand.
And what should I spy?
A man lay shivering, asleep
on the cold dusty ground
He let out but one faint cry,
I stood fast not making a sound,
So his slumber not to disturb.
As I stood there,
One single tear I did cry.
"Don't cry for me Sir;
This life is my choice."
Why live this way,
The ground for a bed,
And no pillow for your head?
Yet you lay sleeping still
and utterly alone....
His answer came quick
With conviction in his young voice.
"Sir I am not alone,
there are others here like me."
I could not speak, so taken was I by his decree.
"Shed no tears for me, for twice I did volunteer."
Twice? But so young he did appear.
I stood and pondered how often had he been here?
"It maybe my first tour of this land, but twice I did volunteer...
Once to join the Service of my home and native land,
Then again I did volunteer to serve the red and white in this far off distant land."
But what of your family; on this special and Holy Night?
"My Family? They are safe and warm, for they live in a Country,
Safe from hostiles' harm, My brother and Sister, to the city did move.
Mom and Dad, live still back on the farm."
Then why do you leave them, your family, back at home?
"I came here to protect them, so that they may stay free.
And those that came before me, and those that come after me, do so for the same.
We come for those who won't come, can stay home without shame.
No... No.. Cowardice is not to blame, For I live in Canada, a Country that is free,
We who serve do so by choice, we come to defend those without a voice.
Those who do not come but choose to remain, go to school or work that is their gain.
For us that do come, Protecting the Peace becomes our PAIN."
The Soldier dozed off again, But still I did remain, just to watch over him,
To Protect the Protector, Was I just being vain? Again I started to weep.
"Cry not for me! This was by MY CHOICE!
YOUR watch is over now, YOUR work here is done!
Heed my voice!
"CARRY ON SANTA, CARRY ON! FOR YOUR WORK IS NEARLY DONE!"
And to YOU PEACEKEEPER,
CARRY ON,
FOR YOUR WORK WILL NE'ER BE DONE.
Rick Todd "Mr Poetry" Peaceful
- 15 years, 5 months, 4 days ago
