A soldiers Christmas

Down the chimney he goes,
In and out of the doors of sleeping homes.
Crossing the floor and leaving presents, keeping on his tippy toes,
Collecting cookies and milk as he roams.

Checking off names as he flies,
He lands for his final stop.
But, this house was different, it took him by surprise,
What good old Santa saw, made his jaw drop.

The walls were bare but, stained black and gray,
The floor was nothing more than blankets covering dirt.
The building was cold as ice because the heat left with the day,
Thick blankets cover sleeping children as a lone soldier kept them safe from being hurt.

The soldier stepped from the door weak and weary,
"All is secure Santa. This is my duty!"
Santa looked at the soldier, eyes now teary,
This was the site of pure beauty.

Santa left many presents and went on his way,
Out the door he walked, giving the soldier a salute.
Leaving him with a gift to help him make it through his day,
All was calm and everything was mute.

In the dead of silence, Santa gave the biggest shout,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
Just as the son was starting to come out,
Santa disappeared at first light.

The soldier woke the children so that they could enjoy the toys,
Wrapping flew left, right and all around.
There were gift for the girls and for the boys,
One gift was untouched laying on the ground.

It was a gift for the soldier and with it a card was found,
"For your long day, and weary night,
Keep your head up, and your feet firm on the ground.
Never surrender, never give up the fight!"

The soldier opened the gift, and was silent for a while,
The gift he received was a brand new flak vest. (Bullet proof vest)
As he tossed his damaged one, he gave the biggest smile,
Strapping the new one snug across his chest.

He gathers the children and holds them close as a tear fell from his eye,
Merry Christmas children, Merry Christmas to you all.
during the late evening he stepped outside and looked up into the sky,
He thanked Santa until night fall.

That night all was warm,
No one was left out to roam,
All were safe from any harm,
It was a glorious Christmas in every home.