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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Christmas Bells
Work rating: Medium

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!"
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