Editor’s note: Destini Arguijo is a sixth-grader at Lockwood Elementary. She wrote “Twas the Night of the Soldier” in response to a school assignment in which students were asked to write a poem. “I have a cousin in the Navy,” Arguijo, 12, said. “I wanted to write something for him.” Twas the night before Christmas And in our tiny town Everything was so peaceful As the snow drifted down All over the globe In lands far away Soldiers always protecting In temporary homes where they stay As Santa came in He stared in confusion For he saw a United States Soldier He thought he was an illusion The soldier just sat there In his room all alone Santa saw that he was dreaming Of his children at home The soldier he turned And saw Santa in tears Now it’s he who is confused At the sobs that he hears Oh dear Santa I do not know why You’re looking at me With tears in your eyes For this is my life The life that I chose Not sure my kids understand But that’s the way it goes So Santa if you don’t mind I want them to remember Just why I had to leave them Back in the month of September Please take my dog tag necklace Back to my baby girl You’ll know exactly who she is She likes to dance and twirl And here’s my extra helmet I know that my boy will like that From what I see in pictures He wears my old worn out hat And if I could ask one more favor When you deliver these Please kiss my sweetheart on the cheek And tell her it’s from me As Santa got up to leave To deliver this young man’s request The soldier stood at attention And told Santa that he had been blessed It was Santa who fell down on both knees And reverently began to pray For this soldier who had reminded him Why we celebrate Christmas day