Christmas Bells

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."