Gunner's Blog

THE NIGHT ONE SOLDIER CRIED
from Renee Marie

One snowy late night Christmas Eve,
a soldier, weary, found reprieve.
He looked into the starry skies,
blurry from his tear-filled eyes.

His boots crunched in the icy snow.
His steamy breath rose from below.
He limped into a silent house,
as stealthy as a frightened mouse.

The Christmas tree sparkling bright,
a beacon in this darkened night,
reminded him of rocket glare,
when bullet blasts had split the air.

The fireplace burning soft and warm
brought memories of those firestorms.
The rescue copter filled his mind
with memories he'd tried to leave behind.

He tiptoed down the darkened hall
and steadied himself against the wall.
Their bedroom door was open wide,
as if they didn't need to hide.

In a crib beside the mother's bed
just inches from her sleeping head,
now lay a tiny newborn boy,
his father's new found pride and joy.

He watched with love his infant son
and blessed the freedom he had won.
For this gift he'd risked his life,
endured those months of pain and strife.

His wife awoke and jumped up fast.
"Thank God!" she said. "You're home at last!"
She reached for him and lost her fears."
And here's your son," she said in tears.

He laughed aloud and held his son
and smiled for the victory he had won.
This baby strong and freedom born
received his father on Christmas morn.

He looked into his baby's eyes
and cried away his cool disguise.
That soldier, weary, found reprieve,
one snowy late night Christmas Eve.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received from Steve Tyson, Chairman of the MOPH - Wounded Warrior Christmas Leave Fund Group.

~g