Biography of the poet henry wadsworth longfellow christmas bells

Christmas bells poem analysis

On the first day of December , as the Civil War raged across America, the celebrated literary critic and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow received a telegram. It bore grave news. The father raced to Washington, D. It would be a long and painful recovery. That Christmas Day, the elder Longfellow sat and contemplated the world around him. The merry pealing of bells rang out in contradistinction to reports of thundering cannons in the South.

Hope and despair comingled. Under a furrowed brow, he set pen to paper, composing a poem that still resonates today. It tells of the descent from peace to barbarity, but ends with an indefatigable belief in the goodness of man and the ultimate triumph of righteousness.

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! 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.