Christmas Truce

It was the winter in the year of 1914,
the first war was raging, like nothing we’ve seen.
Men fighting men on a much larger scale,
But in the midst of it all came a heart-warming tale.
The soldiers ceased fire, and walked through the snow,
they crossed enemy lines without weapons in tow.
They met with each other in the middle of No Man’s Land,
but instead of a fight they stood and shook hands.
The artillery stopped pounding,
the shells stopped zinging,
they then played sports together while singing.
Spreading good tidings, gifts and cheer to one another,
through the spirit of Christmas they all became brothers.
The trenches became quiet except by the carols they had sung,
then a peaceful night’s sleep came after they were all done.
And for days afterward the calmness kept still,
with nothing to worry about except the cold winter chill.
They had found light in a land that was darkened by war,
and for a while they had forgotten what they were fighting for.
They hoped and they prayed that soon they’d be free,
but it was just a glimmer of hope in the harsh reality.
The world’s battles waged on,
but would see a swift end one dawn.
The heroes would meet together at last,
to celebrate a friendship in spite of the past.
No more tears, no more harm,
as they took one another arm in arm.
The world can be cruel but it can also be kind,
as we remember those who chose peace,
that long ago night.