Poem of the Day: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Merry Christmas!

Yes, it may be Christmas Day, but it's also a week day, so business continues as usual here on Poem of the Day... but with a festive spin.

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.

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."

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.

"Longfellow wrote Christmas Bells on Christmas Day 1864 in the midst of the American Civil War and the news of his son having suffered wounds as a soldier in battle. He had suffered the great loss of his wife two years prior to an accident with fire." Oh dear! (Source: Wikipedia)

Tomorrow, a Boxing Day poem.