Longfellow's Christmas musing

"Christmas Bells."

This is one of my favorite poems by Henry W. Longfellow and, quite possibly, one of his shortest. (If you've ever tried to read the epics "Song of Hiawatha" or "Courtship of Miles Standish" you can appreciate this.)

It seems especially relevant this year with all the economic turmoil, our soldiers still fighting in foreign lands, and the uncertainty that hangs between a president leaving and a new one coming in. And let's not forget the ongoing cultural war against anything even remotely connected to Christ and those who follow Him. This is perhaps the biggest struggle of all and one that very likely lies at the heart of most of the other troubles world 'round.

Longfellow wrote it in the aftermath of the bloody Civil War battle at Gettysburg where more than 40,000 soldiers were killed. In spite of the horrors of the war and the loss of his own wife in a fire, he wasn't able to let go of his faith in God. There's a lesson here, don't you think?

Christmas Bells
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!

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!’