I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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.”

—

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