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The Christmas Truce

Listen to poem:

In World War One a tiny ray of light
was kindled one bleak cold and wintry night.
On Christmas Eve amidst the throes of war
the blast of battle bruised the earth no more
and carols filled the air on either side
as harmony abridged the great divide.
A perfect peace pervaded no man’s land
whilst conflict ceased and men met hand to hand.
Such unity if only for one day
caused  bitterness and hate to melt away.
There in the fearful trenches hearts would smile
and be at peace if only for a while.
Oh may the sinful heart of man break free
from selfish gain and war's futility.

20.01.21

The Christmas truce was a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of the First World War around Christmas 1914.

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Christuraj Alex Date: 3/21/2022 9:49:00 PM "may the sinful heart of man break free" - Best of prayers. Beautiful. Congratulations! Login to Reply

Gary Radice Date: 4/26/2021 11:51:00 PM Lovely poem Wendy and congratulations on your win in Brian's contest. I think that it was one of these ceasefires Paul McCartney was alluding to with his song "The Pipes Of Peace" Login to Reply

Kim Rodrigues Date: 1/26/2021 7:41:00 PM We need on eternal Christmas truce! Congratulations, Wendy! Login to Reply

Joyce Johnson Date: 1/24/2021 12:46:00 PM Congratulations Wendy. You got to the very core of Unity. Great job. Joyce Login to Reply

Mark Koplin Date: 1/23/2021 8:27:00 PM Congratulations on your win, Wendy! Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/31/2021 2:39:00 PM Thanks for taking the time to read and comment,Mark.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 1/23/2021 11:54:00 AM - Congratulations on your great win in the Carolyn Devonshire contest, Wendy :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/31/2021 2:39:00 PM Thanks so much, Anne-Lise.

Beata Agustin Date: 1/23/2021 3:27:00 AM Wow! Congrats! Thanks for this, especially these lines: "Oh may the sinful heart of man break free from selfish gain and war's futility." God bless you. Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/31/2021 2:38:00 PM That's kind of you. Thank you for your continual encouragement, Beata.

Krish Radhakrishna Date: 1/22/2021 5:50:00 AM Congrats on a lovely poem and a well reserved win! I remember seeing the movie! how sad hatred was duty and being human brought unity!! The world needs more of this!! Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/22/2021 5:55:00 AM Thank you for your encouraging comment,Krish. I much appreciate your comment and will now lool up the film which both you and Carolyn have alluded to.

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 1/22/2021 4:29:00 AM Wendy, there is a movie sometimes shown around Christmas starring Linda Hamilton called "Silent Night." It shows how such a truce brought German and American soldiers together for one night without violence. I wish this could be done all the time so "bitterness and hate" would disappear. Congrats on a great second place win! Hugs, Carolyn Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/22/2021 5:23:00 AM Oh how interesting, Carolyn, I shall be googling that shortly then. Thank you so much for placing my poem and the time you have taken to carefully read and assess each poem.

Eric Cohen Date: 1/21/2021 2:08:00 PM Oh my goodness, I teared up reading this. This should be published. This seems so timely. And timeless. Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/22/2021 12:55:00 AM Eric, I so appreciate your generous comments. Such poignancy that as Rico commented, it was back to the torment of having to answer the traumatic 'call of duty' thereafter.

Rico Leffanta Date: 1/20/2021 10:40:00 AM And then mustard gas silently filled the air ! Aloha! Rico Login to Reply Wendy Watson Date: 1/20/2021 11:41:00 AM Yes, it's sad that it was just a temporary unity. Thanks for reading,Rico.