One of America’s best
know poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, composed the words to “I Heard the
Bells on Christmas Day” on December 25, 1864. Tragedy struck both the nation
due to the Civil War and Longfellow when the dress of his wife, Frances, caught
fire in July of 1861. As he sought to smother the flames by throwing his arms
around his wife, Longfellow suffered severe burns to his face, arms, and hands.
His wife, Frances, died one-day later. Then almost a year later, Longfellow
received word that his son had been severely wounded in a Civil War battle
fought on July 10, 1862.
So during the Christmas
season of 1864, when a depressed and disheartened Longfellow heard church bells
ringing, he felt compelled to write a poem with the title “I Heard
the Bells on Christmas Day”. His personal loses combined with the ongoing war
between the states was a source of great inner turmoil with the church bell’s
message of “peace of earth.”
In 2008, the contemporary Christian rock group “Casting
Crowns” founded by youth pastor Mark Hall performed this song on
their Christmas album titled “Peace on Earth.” Here’s a video someone put
together to help you experience Longfellow's poem put to music.
As a visitor to this
blog from cities across the USA or from one of the more than 100 nations, I was
wondering where you’re at in your life. As you celebrate the birth of Christ in
your city / nation can you resonate with Longfellow’s internal struggle? Please
leave your comment or write us at L2G.Forum@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from
you.
Thank you for visiting the L2G Forum. May the Christ of
Christmas fill Your heart with the peace that surpasses all human
understanding.
Here are three
alternative video presentations of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Just click on the blue text below:
No comments:
Post a Comment