I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS     By Longfellow

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!