Merry Christmas 2013 from T&L!

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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.”

Thanks for journeying with us during Advent!

Here are links to the four Advent poems I chose for this season, as well as links to my church’s blog, where the writer-in-residence, Casey Hobbs, wrote about them as well:

First Sunday of Advent

“In the Kingdom of Pleasure” | Wits’ End’s post

Second Sunday of Advent

“Mrs. Adam” | Wits’ End’s post

Third Sunday of Advent

“The Miscarriage” | Wits’ End’s post

Fourth Sunday of Advent

“Our Lady of Tenderness” | Wits’ End’s post

About Lauren D. Sawyer

I am a Ph.D. student at Drew Theological School studying Christian Social Ethics. Learn more about me at laurendsawyer.com.