MERRY CHRISTMAS

Was the night before Christmas in a far away land
The sand was blowing and they couldn’t see their hands
Their weapons were ready and were cleaned with care
In case the insurgents weren’t at evening prayer
The guards were manning their posts in the dark
While planning their strategy to hit the mark
The others were nestled in their beds like a bug
When all of a sudden they heard a big thud
The guards were scurrying to see what was the matter
they could hear in the foreground a lot of chatter
The moon was shining on the wind- whipped sand
and it gave a luster of mid-day to objects at hand,
When, what to their wondering eyes do they see
But some insurgents preparing to shoot an RPG
With cat like reflexes, so lively and quick,
The guards took cover by the road in the ditch
A few seconds later they were in the middle of it thick
The RPG hit the guard post and was vaporized
The guards had to get moving they finally surmised
To the top of the sand dune and on the other side
They watched things unfold and had to decide
How they were going to counter the insurgents advance
They made their decision and were ready to dance.
They flanked them on the right and sent two up the middle
like a football play so they could thread the needle
The insurgents broke away and tried to retreat
But a mortar round got them right at their feet
The right flank followed by getting the stragglers
Who didn’t surrender but that was no matter
The firefight came to a quick conclusion
As quick as it started, in great confusion
On this holy night in a land far away
Our soldiers aren’t thinking of sugar-plums and a sleigh
They are fighting the fight for our freedom and lives
and hope they arrive home safe to everyone’s cries:

“Merry Christmas to all – and to all a good-night”

©Copyright December 20, 2007 by Stephen R. Henninger