Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Uproar! I hope you will all enjoy this holiday edition of A Poem For Your Thoughts and all the pieces to come! Each edition will include two poems, the first being a featured piece written by a famous poet that will be analyzed and interpreted according to my point of view. Of course, everyone’s interpretation is different and valid, and the comment section will be open for any further discussion. The second piece is written by yours truly and will be open to complete interpretation and analysis. Go forth, enjoy, and as you read, remember: “It is not what you look at that matters, it is what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau

Poem One: 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!”

Thoughts: A classic poem by one of the greatest poets of all time. The speaker hears the ringing bells on Christmas morning. which signifies “peace on earth,” and “good-will to men.” He anticipates singing and the continuing chimes of Christmas day, but the tone of the poem dramatically shifts in the next stanza. The speaker hears the sounds of cannons from the South, drowning out the sounds of jubilation. This greatly discourages the speaker, but all hope is not lost because the bells once again ring loudly throughout the land. The speaker then realizes that, in fact, God is and forever will be watching over the world to ensure peace and good-will to all men. Truly a poem of joy and hope for the world; something we definitely need right now.

Poem Two: Warm Winters by D.C.

Winter is bitter

And winter is cold.

Hats, gloves, and jackets

Surround the people

With an intense warmth.

But sometimes there is a change

In the cold, dry winter night.

No stacks of wool blankets high;

No layer after layer

Of comforting winter clothes.

A light shawl for the women

And long-sleeved shirts for the men.

What happened to Jack?

Why does he not blow ice

Upon the vast land?

He took a long break

To find burning love.

-D.C.

On behalf of the Uproar Staff, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoyed this edition of A Poem For Your Thoughts, and stay tuned for more rhythmic pieces of literary wisdom coming your way after a well-deserved break.