The Christmas Truce of 1914

To my Great Uncle Roy Newland who was a World War I veteran.

December
the month to remember
the unofficial
Christmas truce of 1914.

Doughboys standing
in trenches of slimy water,
waiting for the enemy's approach.

Stamping their feet
to keep the warm blood circulating
and prevent
their toes from freezing.

Then it happens
allied and German soldiers
raise their voices
in joyful song.

A cease fire requested...
along the war's Western Front...
in no man's land they gathered
exchanging gifts.

What really happened
on December 24, 1914,
only those who were there
know the full story.

Uncle Roy,
a doughboy,
never spoke
of the War to End all Wars,1
of the mustard gas,
or the Christmas Truce;2
so 99 years later
I can only read the history
and wonder
about this Christmas miracle.

Footnotes
1  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/10/98/world_war_i/198172.stm
2  http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htm