Parade of the Wooden Soldiers

Parade of the Wooden Soldiers

Lights are turned low and you’re tucked in your bed
When slowly in the dark rolls a small spool of thread
As if to a signal the toys all awake
And into thunderous cheers they all break

The toys are filling the room side to side
No prying eyes around, they no longer need hide
The dolls wear their best dresses, hair done up right
They stand there arrayed in the soft twinkling light

Suddenly someone calls out “Here they come!”
And row upon row of the girls turn as one
Indeed from the toy box the soldiers are marching
In regal attire, their bayonets flashing

Strands of confetti fill the night air
The soldiers of wood proudly onward stare
But all eyes are drawn to the leader of the host
A magnificent Nutcracker at the captain’s post

With a tall black hat and his sword drawn high
At his flaming gaze all the dolls sigh
His red formal jacket with medals overflowing
He steps through the throng, his stride never slowing

They exit the room and walk down the hall
“To the fireplace!” together all the toys call
They enter the kitchen and walking in mirth
They stop the procession in front of the hearth

The captain climbs up and addresses the crowd
His deep, booming voice echoing loud
“Our old friend Saint Nick is coming tonight
And he asked for the help of our soldier’s might.”

“He finds himself hard-pressed to deliver his gifts
He hasn’t planned well, the elves missed some shifts
So when he comes through he’ll be in quite a hurry
But I told Santa Claus that he needn’t worry”

“He’ll have the gifts ready when he lands on the roof
As soon as they come down and land the first hoof
He’ll sweep down the chimney and give them to us
And then up again he’ll be gone in a flash”

“After that the burden will fall unto us
To carry the presents without too much fuss
For certainly we would not want to awake
The whole of the household and His trust to break!”

As his words he finished they heard a strange sound
Travelling down the chimney, it seemed to surround
The whole of the kitchen, as a black boot appeared
And Santa Claus followed, his face in soot smeared

No sooner did he lay down his bundle of joy
Than he sprang up again before any one toy
Could utter a word and he called back to them
“For your help in this business most indebted I am”

The soldiers jumped at once to the task now at hand
With the rest of the toys following the stern command
Of the Nutcracker captain who directed their actions
And made certain there were no needless distractions

They finally carried them to the right place
And placed them gingerly at the tree base
Yet they weren’t yet at their leisure to rest
The importance of not being found can’t be stressed!

Yet for just one moment they survey their labor
They each turn to smile and to praise their neighbor
What a glorious sight that graces the room!
These toys brought to life standing there in the gloom!

Then they run back to their place in ones and in twos
They must get there quickly, not a moment to lose
For the house is stirring, their magic is spent
Back to their blissful sleep they are sent

And what of the sweet little girl who awakes?
The one who owns all these toys and these games?
She looks around puzzled at the dream she just had
It’s clear from her eyes that she can’t understand

Not a toy out of place, everything like last night
From old Pumpkin Jack to the faithful White Knight
Her stuffed animals neatly in a line
Her dolls in the places that she did assign

But after she finds the gifts under the tree
She quickly forgets about it in her glee
And she fails to notice the footprint of ash
The only sign left of Santa’s quick dash

And what of the toys that can no longer speak?
Their future is not truly all that bleak
For next year once more they may get the chance to aid
‘Till then they will dream of their lovely parade