I’m going to write a short Christmas post on my tablet as my computer is ill. Quite ill. Hoping for a full recovery.
By the time December 25 rolls around, many of us have grown weary of the music. That’s too bad, because there are beautiful carols and hymns that belong at Christmas. I think I first heard “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in late October this year. And even though I choose my music at home, the grocery store, the pharmacy, the optometrist…..everyone’s got holiday music playing. “Winter Wonderland” in early December is fine. “Silent Night” on that day is not – in my opinion!!!
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem “Christmas Bells” by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song tells of the narrator’s despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men. (Source: Wikipedia)
The lyrics seem especially timely now. And thank you to my friend Connie Ciampanelli for the prompt!
Wishing you peace, love of family and friends, quiet joy, true blessings, hearty food, thoughtful gifts, warmth.
The following are the original words of Longfellow’s poem:
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.”
Hope your Christmas has nourished both you and your computer! I might be in the same boat but am taking it as a sign to unplug a little more. Happy New Year, Martha.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas, Martha.
LikeLike
Happy Christmas, Wendy! It’s a pleasure to be connected with you. ❤💚
LikeLike
Merry Christmas, Martha. I had Christmas playing today and the singer was creating her own tune. Or didn’t actually know it. It drove me crazy.
LikeLike
Haha! Merry Christmas, Denise. I hope you have a lovely day 🎄🎉📯🎅🏼❄
LikeLike
I’ve always loved this melancholy yet hopeful song. It is especially poignant this year. Thanks for sharing the entire poem. Wadsworth words, written when he son was fighting in the Civil War, are beautiful.
Merry Christmas, my friend. ❤
LikeLike
And thank you for the spark, Connie. Merry Christmas to you and your family 💚❤
LikeLike
Very nice story and a Merry Christmas to you Martha.
LikeLike
Thank you, Wayne. Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
Hi Martha,
Merrry Christmas! I read your earlier post about your computer and wanted to share with you a similar thing that happened to me when I updated my Windows10 from a pop up.
My screen went black. I had been hit with a virus or malware. I had to take it to my computer man to clear it. If you need a recommendation, let me know, he is very honest and reasonable. He recommended never clicking on those pop ups!
LikeLike
Thanks, Mary. I’ll deal with it next week.
For now, wishing you a happy Christmas! 🎄🎅🏼📯
LikeLike