I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS
By Longfellow
The poem tells of the narrator’s despair, upon hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War. We need to remember what Christmas is all about during this modern time of our nation’s history. “God is not dead, nor does He sleep.” “The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail.”
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!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant subline
Of peace on earth, good-will to me!
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!