Sometimes It Takes Two To Be a Hero

The air was brittle with the cold
mud made life so very hard to bare.
Came to mind that maybe xmas is soon
Remembers roaring fires and christmas fayre

was so cold in the trenches
enemy not so many yards away,
trying to remember if its the twenty fifth
I think it's Christmas day

can hear the sound of music
soldiers singing for all their might,
we joined them in a rendering
of the carol Silent Night.

I peeped out of the bunker
to see the enemy doing the same,
we both held up a white flag
with a makeshift ball we had a game.

these were our enemies
yet human too
we can forget it for awhile
having fun is the right thing to do

this really happened in World War 1
at the end of the evening, went our own way
Christmas is a day to rejoice 
to live to fight another day.

Orig penned 26/11/2015



The unofficial truce took place on December 24, 1914, in the trenches around Ypres.

It started with German soldiers putting decorations up around their trenches and singing Christmas carols, including Stille Nacht - Silent Night. British sang O come all ye faithful

A German looked over the trench - no shots - our men did the same, and then a few of our men went out and brought the dead in (69) and buried them and the next thing happened a football was kicked out of our Trenches into no man's land this is how Germans and English played football.
All were in my eyes heroes.
"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

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Barden Avatar
November 15, 2017 at 10:49 PM
Congratulations on your win, Seren! :-)
Manassian Avatar
August 23, 2017 at 11:01 PM
Yes, this is a well known story. You did it justice, Seren. Lovely to be reminded that we are all part of the same family. Peace is sometimes within reach.
Vaso Avatar
August 22, 2017 at 2:23 AM
I have read about this, great poem!
Smith Avatar
August 21, 2017 at 9:14 AM
In the end we are all brothers and sisters. I'm sure the majority didn't want to fight.
Pigeon Tart Avatar
August 21, 2017 at 8:11 AM
Well penned Seren, hope for humanity yet.
Allison Avatar
August 21, 2017 at 7:14 AM
We have just had 'island at war' weekend so this was perfect to read today and the title is perfect Seren:-) hugs jan xx
Sivey Avatar
August 21, 2017 at 6:44 AM
This is a fabulous write my friend Seren! I surely enjoyed reading your delightful poem of Christmas and the charm that it brings to all! Unfortunately nowadays this is not done during times of war, we have such hardened hearts during these treacherous times! But celebrations will always happen during Christmas time no matter what! Great Work!!
Lane Avatar
August 21, 2017 at 6:29 AM
Your write wonderfully depicts the fact that we all have choices., Seren. If men can choose not to be enemies for one day, can't they choose to live in perpetual armistice? It takes two to make the right choice.
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