I heard the bells on Christmas Day br Their old familiar carols play, br And wild and sweet br The words repeat br Of peace on earth, good-will to men! br br And thought how, as the day had come, br The belfries of all Christendom br Had rolled along br The unbroken song br Of peace on earth, good-will to men! br br Till, ringing, singing on its way, br The world revolved from night to day, br A voice, a chime br A chant sublime br Of peace on earth, good-will to men! br br Then from each black accursed mouth br The cannon thundered in the South, br And with the sound br The carols drowned br Of peace on earth, good-will to men! br br It was as if an earthquake rent br The hearth-stones of a continent, br And made forlorn br The households born br Of peace on earth, good-will to men! br br And in despair I bowed my head; br 'There is no peace on earth,' I said; br 'For hate is strong, br And mocks the song br Of peace on earth, good-will to men!' br br Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: br 'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! br The Wrong shall fail, br The Right prevail, br With peace on earth, good-will to men!'br br Henry Wadsworth Longfellowbr br