My conversation with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow . . .

Bells ring the call to earth
Bells sing the heart to search
For clarity and harmony, 
Peals the soul's worth.
      ------G. Hill

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!
                 ------Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Upended and misgiven,
Tendencies of ego driven,
But swaddled deep within the soul
Grace so amazing, Grace forgiving.

From that simple birth
A resounding worth,
Hope for me, hope for you,
Ringing now, ringing true.
    ------G. Hill

My worth rebounds
From that still small sound
Comes the dove,
Seeded in love.
-----G. Hill

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.
                                     ------Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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."
-----Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

See Also: Recovering Center

Recovering Center