A Poem for Christmas 🔔

In 1862, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet and staunch abolitionist, sent his son off to fight for the Union in America’s Civil War. When he received the news that the young soldier was injured, he sat down and wrote the poem “Christmas Bells”, which later became the familiar Christmas carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

Paraphrasing the memorable words of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, now America is once again engaged in war: War in far off fields and battles political and social at home, testing whether our nation can long endure. We are on a great battlefield for the soul of our country.

Today is Christmas. In the spirit of hope in the midst of, and in spite of chaos, confusion and conflict, I offer Longfellow’s poem as my Christmas gift to you, my readers. While the language is non-inclusive in places, the sentiment remains as true now as it was then.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day      🔔

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. 

I thought how, as the day had come, 
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
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.  🔔