I heard the bells on Christmas Day

by BD Pisani - 2005 dec 24

In the spring of 1864, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reflected on the recent Christmas day, and so many Christmas days past. The nation was yet in the throes of its bloodiest war ever, he had recently lost his dear wife, the love of his life, and late in 1863 he had nursed his son to life after he was gravely wounded at the battle of New Hope Church, Virginia.

Also at this time, Longfellow's lifelong friend Nathaniel Hawthorne passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. These had been difficult times for the poet; but sometimes it is only through great adversity that the promise of hope makes itself felt most strongly. Longfellow began to write:

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.'

I thought how as that 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.

The poem was put to music by Jean Baptiste Calkin in 1872, and became the familiar carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Even through his personal grief, Longfellow penned these words as a soothing reminder to those fighting in the Civil War that those who wronged their fellow men could never win, peace would ultimately prevail, and that a new, better day would dawn. It did.

As James S. Robbins so aptly stated, The Civil War ended as all wars must, but today just as in those times our service members in harm's way long to join their families, and those on the home front look forward to the safe and swift return of their loved ones.

Let us all hope this is the last Christmas without peace on earth, good will to men.