Sharon Auberle Verse-Virtual 2016 December

December 2016

I am a lucky poet who gets to live on the Door County Wisconsin peninsula. I love trees, dachshunds, making music, and I make a mean red beans and rice. My poems have appeared in Earth's Daughters; Lilipoh; and Verse Wisconsin, among others, as well as a variety of anthologies. My poems and photos may be found at my website Mimi's Golightly Cafe.

No Man's Land
December 24, 1914 – the last known Christmas Truce

Somewhere in Belgium
a German soldier, his face
not so different from yours,
lays down his gun
steps out of the trenches
and begins singing…

   Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
   Alles in schlaft, einsam wacht

The man is very cold
and very, very brave.
In the stink of blood and mud
he knows what love is.
He listens for the hiss of bullets,
the rattle of artillery fire,
then realizes the night has grown silent.

   ‘round yon Virgin, Mother and child
   Holy Infant so tender and mild

Other soldiers join him
in that No Man’s Land between,
their raw voices cracking in the cold.
Soon British soldiers begin
laying down their weapons,
joining in the hymn.
They bring gifts of cigarettes
and drinks to share.

Perhaps the men touch,
reach out shaking hands
that no longer hold death,
instead, pour tin cups of whiskey,
send smoke up to the stars
like prayers to a god, in whom,
if they survive,
they want to still believe.

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