'Twas the Night of the Soldier'

Destini Arguijo

Editor’s Note: Destini Arguijo was a sixth-grader at Lockwood Elementary in 2006 when she wrote “’Twas the Night of the Soldier” in honor of family members stationed in Afghanistan. She graduated from Clovis High School in 2013 and today is living in Lubbock and pursuing a medical degree.

A reader asked that the poem be published again.

“Twas the Night of the Soldier”

By Destini Arguijo

Twas the night before Christmas

And in our tiny town

Everything was so peaceful

As the snow drifted down

All over the globe

In lands far away

Soldiers always protecting

In temporary homes where they stay

As Santa came in

He stared in confusion

For he saw a United States soldier

He thought he was an illusion

The soldier just sat there

In his room all alone

Santa saw that he was dreaming

Of his children at home

The soldier he turned

And saw Santa in tears

Now it’s he who is confused

At the sobs that he hears

“Oh dear Santa

I do not know why

You’re looking at me

With tears in your eyes

“For this is my life

The life that I chose

Not sure my kids understand

But that’s the way it goes

“So Santa if you don’t mind

I want them to remember

Just why I had to leave them

Back in the month of September

“Please take my dog-tag necklace

Back to my baby girl

You’ll know exactly who she is

She likes to dance and twirl

“And here’s my extra helmet

I know that my boy will like that

From what I see in pictures

He wears my old worn-out hat

“And if I could ask one more favor

When you deliver these

Please kiss my sweetheart on the cheek

And tell her it’s from me”

As Santa got up to leave

To deliver this young man’s request

The soldier stood at attention

And told Santa that he had been blessed

It was Santa who fell down on both knees

And reverently began to pray

For this soldier who had reminded him

Why we celebrate Christmas Day