Christmas Bells
Last edited Mon Dec 11, 2017, 09:05 PM - Edit history (1)
This was a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was written in 1863. Longfellow suffered through personal tragedies. He lost his wife form the effects of a fire. His son went of to fight in the was against Longfellow's wishes and was severely injured in battle. Lastly the United States was torn apart by the bloody Civil War. This in large part is why he penned the poem Christmas Bells. It subsequently was put to music and recorded by entertainers from Bing Crosby to Sarah McLachlan.
Since our country may have never been more divided since the Civil War it would be a good time to read his words and listen to a version to this song.
Christmas Bells
I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
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