T'was the night before Christmas, And at the back of the bar
Sat a man all alone, Lighting up a cigar
The waitress ran over and waving her hand
You can't do that here, Smoking is banned.
If you must smoke that thing, you can go to the street
And stay away from the building, by at least fifty feet
The man took a puff and with a voice like a croak
He said, "You're kidding, right miss? You're making a joke"
I'm sorry, but sir..I'm afraid that it's true
But the law is the law, and it's not only for you
That we must say **** out, please extinguish your smoke
So our place can be filled with other fine folk
For ninety two years I have walked on this earth,
I have broken no laws and you know what it's worth?
Bupkiss, no nada it's not worth a thing
Would that law still apply if I was a King?
I've been coming in here for 60 odd years
And I think I've consumed a truckload of beers
I've smoked in this corner on many a night
Now you say **** out, I don't think that's right.
I fought for this country at the end of the war
I came home with a war wound, and you know dear...what's more
I came to this bar to have drinks with my friends
Who all weren't so lucky and met terrible ends
They died on the beach, heart as big as a house
Taking on the unknown for their country, their spouse
They battled for honor, the right to be free
And they all weren't as lucky, to come home like me.
I was here in the sixities when Camelot died
I was here with my son, and we both sat and cried
It was that night in November, I remember it well
That my son said he'd joined up and was heading to hell
He had joined the marines and was all set to fight
For freedom and honor and he knew it was right
Because I'd gone before and stood with others like him
And I said just be safe, and come home son...my Jim
In the years he was gone, I came down here to think
Of why he was there and I shared smokes and drinks
With friends, all now gone from this world of distrust
Now they all lie beneath us, decomposed back to dust.
My son made it back and we came right down here
To spend time with our friends, both from far and from near.
The years passed us by and my grandson joined too
And we sat and we prayed in this bar, for we knew
He was fighting for freedom and the rights we hold dear
Like having some fun, over smokes and some beer.
He never came home from his war, don't you see
That's why we're sitting alone here, just you and me
Tonight is the night that his letter arrived
Saying "We regret to inform you...that no one survived"
So, each Christmas Eve I come back to this bar
To savor my memories and to drink from this jar
And I finish each year thinking of what now is gone,
Of my battle scarred boy and his now deceased son
Now, you come and tell me that I must go outside
To continue my smoking and so I'll abide
'cause for 92 years that I've been on this earth
I've broken no laws and you know what that's worth
Then the waitress reached back and she pulled out a match
From a box on the bar with a rusty old catch
She said Sir, I am sorry I didn't mean to offend
For this one night each year, the law I can bend
So please light one for me on this Christmas Eve Night
And Thank you from all who continue the fight.
Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019
May 4, 2012
May 4, 2012 at 6:38 AM UTC
T'was the night before Christmas, And at the back of the bar
Sat a man all alone, Lighting up a cigar
The waitress ran over and waving her hand
You can't do that here, Smoking is banned.
If you must smoke that thing, you can go to the street
And stay away from the building, by at least fifty feet
The man took a puff and with a voice like a croak
He said, "You're kidding, right miss? You're making a joke"
I'm sorry, but sir..I'm afraid that it's true
But the law is the law, and it's not only for you
That we must say **** out, please extinguish your smoke
So our place can be filled with other fine folk
For ninety two years I have walked on this earth,
I have broken no laws and you know what it's worth?
Bupkiss, no nada it's not worth a thing
Would that law still apply if I was a King?
I've been coming in here for 60 odd years
And I think I've consumed a truckload of beers
I've smoked in this corner on many a night
Now you say **** out, I don't think that's right.
I fought for this country at the end of the war
I came home with a war wound, and you know dear...what's more
I came to this bar to have drinks with my friends
Who all weren't so lucky and met terrible ends
They died on the beach, heart as big as a house
Taking on the unknown for their country, their spouse
They battled for honor, the right to be free
And they all weren't as lucky, to come home like me.
I was here in the sixities when Camelot died
I was here with my son, and we both sat and cried
It was that night in November, I remember it well
That my son said he'd joined up and was heading to hell
He had joined the marines and was all set to fight
For freedom and honor and he knew it was right
Because I'd gone before and stood with others like him
And I said just be safe, and come home son...my Jim
In the years he was gone, I came down here to think
Of why he was there and I shared smokes and drinks
With friends, all now gone from this world of distrust
Now they all lie beneath us, decomposed back to dust.
My son made it back and we came right down here
To spend time with our friends, both from far and from near.
The years passed us by and my grandson joined too
And we sat and we prayed in this bar, for we knew
He was fighting for freedom and the rights we hold dear
Like having some fun, over smokes and some beer.
He never came home from his war, don't you see
That's why we're sitting alone here, just you and me
Tonight is the night that his letter arrived
Saying "We regret to inform you...that no one survived"
So, each Christmas Eve I come back to this bar
To savor my memories and to drink from this jar
And I finish each year thinking of what now is gone,
Of my battle scarred boy and his now deceased son
Now, you come and tell me that I must go outside
To continue my smoking and so I'll abide
'cause for 92 years that I've been on this earth
I've broken no laws and you know what that's worth
Then the waitress reached back and she pulled out a match
From a box on the bar with a rusty old catch
She said Sir, I am sorry I didn't mean to offend
For this one night each year, the law I can bend
So please light one for me on this Christmas Eve Night
And Thank you from all who continue the fight.
Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019
A Christmas Eve Poem that was posted earlier, I have not added much, but, I think it is fitting to read so those of you who haven't seen my older works, and The Street Poems, may get a chance.
Request permission to use this poem