On the first day if Christmas not much of a yield
A false sense of peace over a normally killing field
On the second day of Christmas each peace patrol
Went back and forth from billets in its appointed role
On the third day of Christmas suicide bombers struck
Killing some returning from market in an old beat up truck
On the fourth day of Christmas came a retaliatory attack
The victims of yesterday striking straight and hard back
On the fifth day of Christmas the Colonel said
Out on the streets try keep a clear watchful head
On the sixth day of Christmas every one could hear
The crack of sniper rifles seeming far too near
On the seventh day of Christmas uneasy peace broke out
Just an eerie type of silence as each patrol moved about
On the eight day of Christmas the Padre conducted prayers
And called for the understanding of all parties out there
On the ninth day of Christmas the truce held still
As if being maintained by sheer force of will
On the tenth day of Christmas with tour's end in sight
Mortars bombs whined in breaking up the night
On the eleventh day of Christmas one tour came to an end
And the patrol was replaced by one of more rested men
On the twelfth day of Christmas resting back at base
A forty eight before the return to another awful place
