Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells

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!

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!"

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow