Greg Wycliffe - The Night Before Christmas

00:00:00.000 Canadian my name is Greg Merry Christmas it's the night before Christmas and one

00:00:05.680 of our traditions in my family is reading the night before Christmas before

00:00:10.600 we go to bed at the back of the book we always read out of there's these printed

00:00:16.040 pages of a poem that I don't recall where it came from it's part of a

00:00:22.560 printed out email anyway I'm gonna share it I'd like to share it with you guys I

00:00:25.680 have to whisper because my sister's in the next room towards the night before

00:00:30.300 Christmas he lived all alone in a one-bedroom house made of plaster and

00:00:37.080 stone I had come down the chimney with presents to give and to see just who in

00:00:44.560 this home did live I looked all about a strange sight I did see no tinsels no

00:00:52.420 presents not even a tree no stocking by the mantle just boots filled with sand

00:00:58.900 on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands with medals and badges awards of

00:01:05.700 all kinds a sober thought came through my mind for this house was different it was

00:01:11.780 dark and dreary I found the home of a soldier once I could see clearly the

00:01:20.180 soldier lay sleeping silent alone curled up on the floor in this one-bedroom home

00:01:26.960 the face was so gentle the room in such disorder not how I pictured a Canadian

00:01:34.860 soldier was this the hero of whom I just read curled up on a poncho the floor for a

00:01:42.780 bed I realized the families that I saw this night owe their lives to these

00:01:49.080 soldiers who were willing to fight soon round the world the children would play

00:01:55.100 and grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas day they all enjoyed freedom

00:02:00.920 each month of the year because of the soldiers like the one lying here I couldn't

00:02:08.100 help wonder how many lay alone on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home the

00:02:16.620 very thought brought a tear to my eye I dropped to my knees and started to cry the soldier

00:02:24.880 awakened and I heard a rough voice Santa don't cry this life is my choice I fight for freedom

00:02:33.100 I don't ask for more my life is my God my country my core the soldier rolled over

00:02:41.560 and drifted to sleep I couldn't control it I continued to weep I kept watch for

00:02:48.880 hours so silent and still and we both shivered from the cold nights chill I didn't

00:02:55.960 want to leave on that cold dark night this guardian of honor so willing to fight

00:03:02.020 then the soldier rolled over with the voice soft and pure whispered carry on

00:03:08.860 Santa it's Christmas Day all is secure one look at my watch and I knew he was

00:03:16.000 right Merry Christmas my friend and to all a good night it says at the top of this

00:03:29.020 email this is a poem originating from a Canadian peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas and

00:03:36.200 district distributed through the D&D intranet so it was sent in 2007 just add context anyway

00:03:49.740 that's it have a Merry Christmas folks and we'll talk to you very soon

Greg Wycliffe - December 25, 2019