Comic Geekspeak Presents

Christmas Bells, a poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, composed on Christmas

Day of that turbulent year, both for Longfellow and for the United States in general, of

1863, while Longfellow was coping with the recent tragic death by immolation of his wife and the enlistment against Longfellow's wishes of Longfellow was coping with the recent tragic death by immolation of his wife and the enlistment

against Longfellow's wishes of Longfellow's son in the Union Army to fight in the American Civil

War. The poem was famously set to music in 1956 by Johnny Marks under the title, I heard the bells on

Christmas Day. I heard the bells on Christmas Day.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet

the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill 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, goodwill 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, goodwill to men.

Then, from each black accursed mouth of cannon thundered in the south, and with the sound

the carols drowned of peace on earth goodwill to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent the hearthstones of a continent

and made forlorn the households born of peace on earth, goodwill 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,

goodwill to men.

Then peeled 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, goodwill to men.

All of us at Comic Geekspeak wish all of you,

hope, love, comfort, joy, and above all, peace

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