the Sands of Christmas - by Michael Marks

Being that Christmas is soon upon us, I, like many poets, was trying to think of something to write for the occasion. But, when I saw this in my email, I don't think anything I could have said would have touched the spirit of the season so eloquently....nor with such heart felt emotion. I also wanted to share this with as many people as possible, in hopes that it touches them too... and that maybe we will all see the blessings that we have... and not give as much thought this Christmas as to what we might be getting, or giving. All those soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are giving US so much.... our continued freedom. I hope this touches you, as it has touched me. I don't know who this Michael Marks is, but Michael, thank you for writing such a beautiful and touching poem. May it reach around the world.

***Since posting this, I did a search on Michael Marks, and found that he posts poems on a site for veterans. Here it is if you'd like to check it out.... http://iwvpa.net/marksm/  ***



Dedicated To All Military Troops Everywhere



THE SANDS OF CHRISTMAS - BY Michael Marks

I had no Christmas spirit
when I breathed a weary sigh,
And looked across the table
where the bills were piled too high.

The laundry wasn't finished
and the car I had to fix,
My stocks were down another point,
the Chargers lost by six.

And so with only minutes
till my son got home from school
I gave up on the drudgery
and grabbed a wooden stool.

The burdens that I carried
were about all I could take,
And so I flipped the TV on
to catch a little break.

I came upon a desert scene
in shades of tan and rust,
No snowflakes hung upon the wind,
just clouds of swirling dust.

And where the reindeer should have stood
before a laden sleigh,
Eight Humvees ran a column
right behind an M1A.

A group of boys walked past the tank,
not one was past his teens
Their eyes were hard as polished flint,
their faces drawn and lean.

They walked the street in armor
with their rifles shouldered tight,
Their dearest wish for Christmas,
just to have a silent night.

Other soldiers gathered,
hunkered down against the wind,
To share a scrap of mail
and dreams of going home again.

There wasn't much at all
to put their lonely hearts at ease,
They had no Christmas turkey,
just a pack of MREs.

They didn't have a garland
or a stocking I could see,
They didn't need an ornament -
they lacked a Christmas tree.

They didn't have a present
even though it was tradition,
The only boxes I could see
were labeled "ammunition."

I felt a little tug
and found my son now by my side,
He asked me what it was I feared,
and why it was I cried.

I swept him up into my arms
and held him oh so near
And kissed him on the forehead
as I whispered in his ear.

"There's nothing wrong, my little son,
for safe we sleep tonight
Our heroes stand on foreign land
to give us all the right.

To worry on the things in life
that mean nothing at all,
Instead of wondering if we
will be the next to fall."

He looked at me as children do
and said, "it's always right,
To thank the ones who help us
and perhaps that we should write."

And so we pushed aside the bills
and sat to draft a note,
To thank the many far from home,
and this is what we wrote:


"God bless you all and keep you safe,
and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so,
and that you're not alone.

The gift you give you share with all,
a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty
and that we can't repay."

~ Michael Marks ~


Merry Christmas and a safe New Year
to all troops so far from home!


May God bless and keep you safe.