Two stanzas from one of my favorite Christmas songs. Longfellow expresses the despair I sometimes feel when I take a moment to look beyond myself, but I more than love how he offers a polemic against this as he combines the Easter hope with the Christmas promise.
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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, not doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Merry Christmas.
