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HW Longfellow read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\n\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\n\n---------------------------------------------------\n\nChristmas Bells\nby Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 \u2013 1882)\n\nI heard the bells on Christmas Day\nTheir old, familiar carols play,\nAnd wild and sweet\nThe words repeat\nOf peace on earth, good-will to men!\nAnd thought how, as the day had come,\nThe belfries of all Christendom\nHad rolled along\nThe unbroken song\nOf peace on earth, good-will to men!\n\nTill, ringing, singing on its way\nThe world revolved from night to day,\nA voice, a chime,\nA chant sublime\nOf peace on earth, good-will to men!\n\nThen from each black, accursed mouth\nThe cannon thundered in the South,\nAnd with the sound\nThe Carols drowned\nOf peace on earth, good-will to men!\n\nAnd in despair I bowed my head;\n\u2018There is no peace on earth,\u2019 I said;\n\u2018For hate is strong,\nAnd mocks the song\nOf peace on earth, good-will to men!\u2019\n\nThen pealed the bells more loud and deep:\n\u2018God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!\nThe Wrong shall fail,\nThe Right prevail,\nWith peace on earth, good-will to men!\u2019\n\n\nFirst aired: 25 December 2007\n\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\n\nReading \xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2008