This is one of my favorite poems. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. ~Sarah Raplee
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.
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.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
4 comments:
A message of hope is a special gift these days, Sarah. It's one of my favorite also. So, Peace on earth, good will to all.
Glad you like it, Judith. Happy Holidays!
I'll need to research who set that to music because it's one of my favourite carols. Thank you for sharing, and blessings of the season to you and yours.
A great poem that was also turned into a hymn often song at Christmas Eve services. They lyrics change slightly after the stanza about being in despair.
Following that stanza the song goes like this (from my choir book: songwriters are John Mark Hall, Dale Oliver, and Bernie Herms):
But the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir singing (peace on earth)
Does anybody hear them? (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep (peace on earth, peace on earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Then 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
And the bells they're ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
And with our hearts we'll hear them (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (peace on earth)
The life the angels singing (peace on earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men
I like the picture formed with the music at the end as if the bells are very insistent: Peace on earth, Good will to men ringing out again and again and again.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah! Merry Christmas to you.
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