T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.<br />HE LIVED ALL ALONE,<br />IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE.<br />MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE. <br /><br />I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY<br />WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE<br />AND TO SEE JUST WHO<br />IN THIS HOME DID LIVE <br /><br />I LOOKED ALL ABOUT<br />A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE<br />NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS<br />NOT EVEN A TREE <br /><br />NO STOCKING BY MANTLE<br />JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND<br />ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES <br />OF FAR DISTANT LANDS <br /><br />WITH MEDALS AND BADGES<br />AWARDS OF ALL KINDS<br />A SOBER THOUGHT<br />CAME THROUGH MY MIND <br /><br />FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT<br />IT WAS DARK AND DREARY<br />I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER<br />ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY <br /><br />THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING<br />SILENT ALONE<br />CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR<br />IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME <br /><br />THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE<br />THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER<br />NOT HOW I PICTURED<br />A NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER <br /><br />WAS THIS THE HERO<br />OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?<br />CURLED UP ON A PONCHO<br />THE FLOOR FOR A BED? <br /><br />I REALIZED THE FAMILIES<br />THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT<br />OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS<br />WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT <br /><br />SOON ROUND THE WORLD<br />THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY<br />AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE<br />A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY <br /><br />THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM<br />EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR<br />BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS<br />LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE <br /><br />I COULDN'T HELP WONDER<br />HOW MANY LAY ALONE<br />ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE<br />IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME <br /><br />THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT<br />A TEAR TO MY EYE<br />I DROPPED TO MY KNEES<br />AND STARTED TO CRY <br /><br />THE SOLDIER AWAKENED<br />AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE<br />"SANTA DON'T CRY,<br />THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE; <br /><br />I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM <br />I DON'T ASK FOR MORE <br />MY LIFE IS MY GOD<br />MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS <br /><br />THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER<br />AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP<br />I COUNDN'T CONTROL IT<br />I CONTINUED TO WEEP <br /><br />I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS<br />SO SILENT AND STILL<br />AND WE BOTH SHIVERED<br />FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL <br /><br />I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE<br />ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT<br />THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR<br />SO WILLING TO FIGHT <br /><br />THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER<br />WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE<br />WHISPERED "CARRY ON SANTA<br />IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE." <br /><br />ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH<br />AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT<br />"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND<br />AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
