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!

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