I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

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.

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.

Then from each black, accurséd 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."

Till ringing, swinging 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.

Christmas Poems
Home

Poems and Other Writings