An Announcement, a Heartfelt Wish and a Poem for Our Times

First of all, it's time for Christmas vacation for everyone here at the Biscuit City Studios. We'll be taking a break until after New Year's Day. On behalf of the management and staff, I want to wish everyone the most blessed and peaceful of Christmases and a prosperous and happy New Year.

American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard church bells ringing on Christmas Day of 1864. The war had been going on for over three years, and as he reflected on the bells and life at the time, he put his thoughts into a poem, "Christmas Bells." Some of the verses were later set to music. The words, thoughts and feelings still speak to our circumstances today.

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!"