《christmas bells 圣诞钟声》这首诗是亨利-沃兹沃思-朗费罗在1864年的圣诞节创作的，当时正处于美国内战时期。亨利-沃兹沃思-朗费罗(1807-1820)是美国最伟大的诗人之一，出生于缅因州，毕业于鲍登学院，在马萨诸塞州的康桥度过他成年的大部分时间。
christmas bells
by henry wadsworth longfellow
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!"