Christmas Time

JOHN OPENED HIS EYES ON CHRISTMAS DAY A SEASON OF GOODWILL TO ALL SOME SAY


OVER 40 YEARS NOW SINCE THAT CHRISTMAS DAY THAT HE HELD HIS FRIEND IN HIS ARMS HIS LIFE EBBING AWAY


25TH DECEMBER 1967 A 19 YEAR OLD MARINE SLIPPED QUIETLY AWAY TO HEAVEN


JOHN CRIED SO MUCH IN THE JUNGLE THAT DAY THAT THEY SENT HIM TO THE REAR NOT IN A SLEIGH


BUT A HELICOPTER FULL OF INJURED DYING MARINES WITH IV'S IN THEIR ARMS, THEY ARE STILL IN HIS DREAMS


HIS GRANDSON SAID `GRANDPA, LOOK WHAT I GOT GRANDPA THANK'S`


AS HE TORE OPEN HIS PRESENT CONTAINING TOY SOLDIERS AND TANKS


WITH A TEAR IN HIS EYE JOHN WENT BACK TO HIS ROOM


HIS GRANDSON SAID `PLEASE PLAY WITH ME, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING SO SOON? `


JOHN OPENED A SHOE BOX INSIDE HIS MEDALS AND A CARD


HE TREMBLED AND HE SOBBED TEARS MAKING IT SO HARD


TO READ THE WORDS HIS FREIND HAD WROTE THAT DAY IN VIETNAM


HAPPY CHRISTMAS JOHN ENJOY NEW YEAR IN THE REAR


FROM A FELLOW NEW YORK YANKY


DAN.

©  Tony McNally