Merry Christmas!

by | Dec 25, 2015 | Faith | 7 comments

During the 1860s, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow supported abolitionism and especially hoped for reconciliation between the northern and southern states after the American Civil War. When his son was injured during the war, he wrote the poem “Christmas Bells”, later the basis of the carol I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. He wrote in his journal in 1878: “I have only one desire; and that is for harmony, and a frank and honest understanding between North and South” **

bells-1028706_960_720Christmas Bells

Poem 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!”

**Information from Wikipedia.

christmas

Author

  • Jennifer Hallmark

    Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction with a twist. Her website and newsletter focus on her books, love of the South, and favorite fiction. She creates stories with unforgettable characters—her stories are a little eerie and otherworldly but with a positive turn. Jessie’s Hope, her first novel, was a Selah Award nominee for First Novel. Her latest novel, Smoking Flax, will be released on January 16th, 2024. When she isn’t babysitting, gardening, or exploring the beautiful state of Alabama, you can find her at her desk penning fiction or studying the craft of writing. She also loves reading and streaming fantasy, supernatural stories, and detective fiction from the Golden Age or her favorite subject—time travel.

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7 Comments

  1. June Foster
    June Foster on December 25, 2015 at 7:23 am

    Such hope despite his own personal grief. Merry Christmas.

    • Jennifer
      Jennifer on December 25, 2015 at 8:30 am

      Hi, June! I love that song…

  2. ellen22andersen
    ellen22andersen on December 25, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Reblogged this on Jennifer Hallmark and commented:

    This is one of the most important messages the world needs these days, especially

  3. ellen22andersen
    ellen22andersen on December 25, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    One of the most important messages to remember. I love this song! Thanks for sharing it Jennifer.

    • Jennifer
      Jennifer on December 25, 2015 at 3:22 pm

      One of my favorite Christmas songs. 🙂

  4. Sandra Ardoin
    Sandra Ardoin on December 28, 2015 at 8:38 am

    I’m with you. I love this song! It’s gotten to be one of my favorites over the past few years.

    • Jennifer
      Jennifer on December 28, 2015 at 9:03 am

      I didn’t know the poem was longer until I looked it up though…