Paul F. McCann

BETWEEN THE BATTLEFIELDS: CHRISTMAS 1915

On a Christmas Eve long ago,
as a war was being fought,
somewhere on the western front,
a hint of mercy had been caught.

A lonely voice sang out a song
that brought hope and peace for all.
For a while the war was over
and each soldier heard the call.

It was silent night in no-man’s land
where fear chose not to be.
Soldiers laid down their weapons
and there was no more enemy.

It was 1915
and peace came down to earth for a while.
In no-man’s land they shared stories
and exchanged a friendly smile.

For the British and the Germans
it was a special Christmas.
Christ the child had brought a light
but then the silent night had passed.

The next day hundreds were killed
by those, who once had shook their hand
The guns of war were firing again
and blood bathed no-man’s land.