T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

 .

 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,

 ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,

 OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

 WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

 AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

 

A SOBER THOUGHT,

 CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

 FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

 IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

 I FOUND THE 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 DISORDER,

 NOT HOW I PICTURED,

 

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.