A Reflection on Christmas Eve

[DBF]

Twas the day before Christmas and I started to wonder,
for my country it's people are now torn asunder.
For many their lives are never the same
their loved ones are gone, missing or maimed.

When war first began I thought it soon pass,
But soon came the battles and the bodies amassed.
I buried our brothers, our fathers, our messmates
and heard from our leaders of our great success rate.

But Christmas is coming and throughout the land,
still I fight on and continue to stand.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night?
not when I'm tired and ready to fight.

The reason I fight; I have long forgotten
whatever it is; no longer important.
So many buddies to bury and grieve,
it's hard to be happy on this Christmas Eve.

War is not pretty, romantic or fun.
It's marching, and killing and hoping you've won.
It's lonely, and scary for where ever I roam
I pray that it ends and I soon will be home.



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A Husband & Wife Separated By the War
Illustrator - Thomas Nast - 1862
(Public Domain)​