There was never a Christmas that went by in days of my youth, without the reciting of some poems, and the singing of some carols. Like anyone, I had my favorites; poems and songs that I insisted on hearing every Christmas, come what may. There were several of them, of course. My father could recite his favorite, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” by Clement C. Moore, by heart; and did so until the day he passed away.
My personal favorite, “Christmas Bells,” I committed to memory as well. Here it is, in its entirety.
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 into 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 carol 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!
About Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator whose works include “Paul Revere’s Ride,” “The Song of Hiawatha,” and “Evangeline.”
He was born in Portland, Maine, at that time a part of Massachusetts, and studied at Bowdoin College. He spent some time abroad in Europe, and upon returning to Massachusetts, became a professor at Bowdoin and at Harvard as well.
Longfellow retired from teaching in 1854 to focus on his writing, living the remainder of his life in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After his second wife, Frances Appleton, died in 1861, he had difficulty writing poetry for a while, and focused on the translation of works of earlier Europeans until his death in 1882. His poems, primarily known for their lyrical and musical qualities, often focused on legend and mythology.
He was probably the most popular American poet of his day, and enjoyed quite a bit of success in Europe as well. “Christmas Bells,” the poem presented here for your enjoyment, was written during the American Civil War,' and reflects a rather melancholy Longfellow.
Revisit Your Christmas Traditions
What do you do that's “special” this time of the year? Do you chase squirrels around trees, go Polar Bear swimming, or see how many hours in a row you can watch football on television?
While all those things are interesting, perhaps not everyone can participate in them, particularly the very young and very old. Look back to Christmases past and see if there aren’t some trends there worthy of carrying on and introducing them to your children.
My wager is, there is something there; something that you wish would never end. For the enjoyment of all, just do it! Without doubt, you will create memories for your family, just as my mother and family created them for me.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Maine Historical Society
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – American Poems
Brazos Mason - If it's about golf or poetry, I'm your guy! I have numerous golf articles and over 1000 poems published.
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