The year 1861 was a sad year for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In the month of July his wife, Fanny, who he dearly loved, had been sealing a keepsake lock of their daughter’s hair in wax, when a gust of wind blew through the window causing her dress to catch fire.
Longfellow severely burned his face and hands, attempted to save her, but her burns were so severe she died the next day. In the year 1864 his son was injured in the Civil war. Christmas of that year, in despair he wrote this famous carol – ‘I heard the bells on Christmas day’ “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” He had good reason to question if there would ever be peace for him But then this great poet wrote these words of cheer –
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep God is not dead nor does He sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men”
In this year of 2022 as Christmas is nearing, we may question the sorrow and pain over the loss of loved ones we are grieving and I venture to say in my humble words –
The bells are heard on Christmas Eve and how we yearn for peace to be wherever we look it seems so far struggles and doubts never seem to cease
GOD is still here HE does not sleep Our grief will end – our pain removed
Donna's Poetry Blog 