Ponchatoula (AO 148) - Naval Cruise Book

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CHRISTMAS A SAILOR'S THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS AT SEA The waves: lonely sight on this blue Christmas Day, For a man of the sea, with home so far away, He stands by the rail watching those waves rolling by, And knowing he can't be home, he asks himself Why '? He looks at the stars, those far, shimmering stones, And suddenly he feels so completely alone, He looks toward the corner where stands a small lifeless tree, And his mind strives to bridge that omnipotent sea. He dreams of the laughter of children he misses, Or he longs for his girl and her sweet Christmas kisses. He thinks of his childhood QOh! The time went so fast! J And he remembers those Christmases he had in the past: He remembers a tree all glistening and fine And the tangy sweet scent of freshly cut pine. He remembers bare trees standing all in a row, Naked fields, shivering forests, all covered with snow The Story of Christmas, the king's evil plots, He remembers his haves and forgets his have-nots. All the things that he's longed for ....... peace, home, family Represented tonight by a small Christmas tree, And for these precious things that only his mind can see, He looks to the heavens and says God, I thank Thee! He clenches his fists, and the sea hears him pray: Dear God, send me home for my next Christmas Day! BY DANIEL FRANTZ

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w 1 ' Q In spite of being at sea before Christmas, we still managed to acquire a few trees l