Christmas Bells

"Christmas Bells"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)

"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!"


Please go here to read the story behind the poem, it is eye-opening, tragic and uplifting.

The reason I came across this piece today, I was listening to Frank Sinatra sing this song in a very slow and somber tone. Almost like he might have been singing it after a USO event during one of the wars. It really made me stop and listen to the words. So many times today it seems like Christmas is all about getting, getting, getting. Rush here, Rush there. Ignore the pedestrians while I try to get to that parking spot. There is so much more to Christmas than just that, but that is a whole 'nother post or two!!