天是聖誕夜呢!也就是平安夜。在這個平安喜樂的日子裡卻仍有許多地方既不平安也不喜樂,戰爭仍在繼續著。

      星期天去教會時牧師用了一首詩,這是美國士兵James M Schmidt 在1986年所寫的一首詩【A Soldier's Christmas (一位戰士的聖誕節)】。我對這位士兵的豁達感到欽佩;卻也被他孤單地身處異鄉,無法回家過節的心情感到難過。整首詩最讓我感動的地方是他安慰為他難過的聖誕老公公說:「繼續上路吧聖誕老人,今天是聖誕節,一切都很安全。」

      把這首詩跟大家分享,也希望那些戰爭、災害能早點結束,大家都能過個真正平安的聖誕夜。

A Soldier's Christmas


'Twas the night before Christmas,
he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house
made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
with presents to give,
and to see just who in this
little house lived.

As I looked all about,
a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.

No Stockings by mantle,
just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
awards of all kinds,
A sobering thought
came through my mind.

For this house was different,
it was dark and dreary,
The home of a soldier,
I could now see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
the room in such disorder,
Not how I picture a United States Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom
each month of the year,
because of the soldiers,
like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wondering how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land
far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to one knee and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and
I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry, for this life is my choice".

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
My life is my God, my country, my corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
as we both shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave, on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa....,
It's Christmas Day...., All is secure. "

One look at my watch,
and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend....
and to all a Good Night.
一位戰士的聖誕節


這是個聖誕夜
他獨自生活在
一個只有一間房間且
由灰泥和石頭所組成的房子裡

我從煙囪上爬下來
帶著禮物
並且想看看到底是誰
住在這小小的房子裡

我環顧四周
看到一幅奇怪的景象
沒有閃亮的金箔、沒有禮物
甚至連樹都沒有

沒有襪子垂掛
只有沾滿沙子的長靴
和牆上掛著
遙遠故鄉的圖片

在擺滿了獎牌和徽章
還有各類獎盃之中
有種清醒的感覺滑過我腦中

這間房子真的很不一樣
又黑暗又慘淡
這個戰士的房子
現在我看得很清楚了

戰士正在睡覺,沈默、孤獨
捲曲在地板上
在這一個只有一間房間的屋子裡

他的面孔很柔和
屋子卻如此地零亂
不像我我所想像的美國戰士。

這是我剛剛讀到的英雄嗎?
捲曲在外套裡,以地板為床?

我意識到今晚我所看到的家庭
都欠了這些自願保衛家園的戰士們

很快地在世界各地
孩子們會熱鬧地
和大家一起慶祝光輝的聖誕節

他們所有人可以感受到自由
歲歲年年
都是因為戰士們
就像躺在那兒睡著的那位一樣

我無法想像有多少戰士
在離開故鄉很遠的地方
的一個寒冷聖誕夜裡
獨自入眠

這種想法讓我熱淚盈眶
我單膝跪下並開始哭泣。

戰士喚醒了我
我聽見一個粗啞的聲音:
「聖誕老人你不要哭,這種生活是我選的。

我為自由戰鬥,我不要求更多
我的生活就是我的上帝、我的國家、我的軍團。」

戰士翻過身重新入睡
我無法控制地繼續啜泣

我觀看了幾個小時,如此沈默和寂靜
如同我們在寒風中打了個冷顫

我不想離開,在那又冷又暗的夜晚
這位榮譽的守護者
如此心甘情願地戰鬥

戰士又翻了個身,以輕柔和純淨的聲音耳語著:
"繼續上路吧聖誕老人...,
今天是聖誕節...,一切都很安全。」

看我的手錶一眼,
我知道他是對的
聖誕快樂我的朋友...
願每一個晚上都是平安的夜晚

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