Posted on 12/23/2011 5:57:38 AM PST by iowamark
Many musicians and writers of poetry will admit that some of their finest work comes when they have experienced a death or a tragedy of some kind, that the writing of poetry has an almost cathartic effect.
Such is the case of one of the best known and most beloved carols associated with Christmas, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” which came from the pen of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and was written on Christmas Day, 1864.
His had been a tortured life in last few years before that day. On July 11, 1861, his wife Fanny had clipped some long curls from the head of her seven-year-old daughter, Edith, and wanting to save them in an envelope, melted a bar of sealing wax with a candle to seal the envelope.
Somehow the thin fabric of her clothing caught fire, and she quickly ran to Longfellow’s nearby study for help. He immediately tried to extinguish the flames with a small rug, and when that failed, he threw his arms around Fanny to smother the flames, causing him to sustain serious burns on his face, arms, and hands. His heroic act did not suffice, and Fanny died the next morning of her injuries. Longfellow was unable to even attend the funeral.
Photographs of Longfellow taken or made after the fire usually show him with a full beard, since he was no longer able to shave properly due to the burns and scarring.
The coming of the holiday season in the Longfellow house became a time of grieving for his wife while trying to provide a happy time for the children left at home. It was during Christmas 1862 that he wrote in his journal, “A ‘merry Christmas’ say the children, but that is no more for me.”
(Excerpt) Read more at communities.washingtontimes.com ...
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."
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men”
Beautiful, Iowamark. Thanks for posting this poem!
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I surely hope the wrong shall quickly fail and the right quickly prevail
Thanks for posting. I’ve always liked Longfellow.
Another one of his that I really like is Evangeline.............
Thanks for posting. I’ve always liked Longfellow.
Another one of his that I really like is Evangeline.............
This hymn, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, has been translated and put in a hymn book for our Spanish members. It is pitiful! The rich language used in these poems simply can not be conveyed in another language. It is actually painful for me to hear these two hymns sung in Spanish.
I suppose the reverse is true. When I was younger I read English translations of Russian literature some of which contained poetry. I wonder how much of the beauty of the language was lost in translation.
By the way, one of the ways that I enlarge my Spanish vocabulary is by reading Spanish literature. I buy two books, one in Spanish and the other in English. When I am stuck I compare the two.
It is surprising how badly translated some books are. Sometimes whole paragraphs are missing. ( Yes, really.) Sometimes the idea in the original is given the complete opposite meaning in the translation. And, there is some slang that simply can't be translated, and some English words have no corresponding word in Spanish, for example, the word,”cute”.
For “cute” I say “lindo” or “adorable”. I agree that poetry, especially song lyrics, are difficult to translate. My Spanish, which I learned from traveling in Latin America, was improved by listening to songs. I recommend the Fania Records collection, especially the songs of Celia Cruz. I’ll send you some other suggestions.
The poem is a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
I’d never seen all the words to they hymn before; very sad. I didn’t know that story about Longfellow’s wife.
I had never seen verses 4 and 5. Thanks for sharing - it really provides context to one of my favorite Christmas songs.
Would you include me in those suggestions? I travel about once a year to the Dominican Republic, and a little more Spanish fluency would be beneficial! Thanks.
I do as well.
But “cute” can also mean funny, odd, or original and can be used with a sarcastic voice to show disapproval.
One word - MERENGUE. Actually, two more words, Johnny Ventura (and if you’ve been to the D.R. and don’t know who he is, you should do penance. I will send you my suggestions. K.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe1fRwgGu5E
This song is sooooo “cute”! :-)
( There's a short Target commercial before the video.)
My husband goes to this site nearly every day to practice his Spanish. I am less faithful and should do better. ( Feeling a little guilty about wasted time.) It is an excellent site for learning how to hear and understand spoken Spanish.
Thanks! I’ll take a look while I’m home next week!
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