Longfellow’s Christmas poem finds hope in despair
Tucked among the Christmas songs of many hymnals is a little-sung carol by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Longfellow wrote the poem that provides the lyrics on Christmas Day in 1863. If his words seem almost despairing, a little background will help us understand Longfellow’s somber tone.
Longfellow’s first wife, Mary Potter, died in 1835 after a miscarriage. He married his second wife, Frances Appleton, in 1843. They were devoted to each other. In 1861, two years before he wrote this poem, Frances died from burns when her dress caught on fire. Longfellow had a hard time writing anything after her death.
By 1861, the American Civil War had started and immersed Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line into the horrific experience of bloodshed by the barrel. By 1863, Longfellow’s son Charles joined the Union Army to fight in the war. After Charles had joined, he sent his father a letter on March 14, 1863, to let him know he was now in the army and explain his reasons. In November of that year, Charles was wounded at the Battle of Mine Run in Virginia. His wound ended his military career.
Longfellow’s sadness prompted him to write these words:
“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!”
But then Longfellow reflected on how actual events contradicted the hope Christmas promises. By the way, most hymnals omit these next two verses.
“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!”
His sadness over the death of Frances and wounding of his son come out in the following verse:
“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!”
As I read these words, I think of the deep divisions in our nation today. Hate seems so strong that we could quickly join in the despair Longfellow felt. But I am grateful he did not end these two verses. He added another verse – words of hope:
“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.’”
Despite the sounds that seek to drown the hopeful message of the bells of Christmas Day, we need to realize – as Longfellow did – that “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.” Too often, we are tempted to do exegesis of Biblical texts based on newspaper headlines or on the “analysis” of what passes for “broadcast journalism” these days.
Most of us would be shocked to learn how many actions of kindness, consideration, and compassion go on each day – and even more so around Christmas time. Do not allow those whose business is to peddle doom and despair to color your perceptions of the reality that exists in the hearts of so many.
Even in the darkest days our nation had seen to that point, Longfellow found hope amid his sadness and despair. Let’s follow his example.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
