A holiday poetry exercise from Longfellows famous poem "Christmas Bells" |
This is a writing challenge for you writers of poetry for Christmas. This year’s exercise is based on the poem from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) written around the time of the civil war. His poem “Christmas Bells” was later made into a well known carol titled, “I heard the bells on Christmas day” where the last line of each stanza repeats “of peace on earth, good-will to men” What you want to do in your poem is use the words: PEACE, EARTH, GOOD, WILL, MEN, in that order in each and every stanza as you write your Christmas poem. For inspiration here is Longfellow’s original poem. Below that is my attempt at completing this exercise. Have fun with it and have a Merry Christmas! "Christmas Bells" Original (1867) 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." Here is my attempt at this wonderful poetry exercise. I hope this serves as an adequet example for you. Please post your version. Iam sure we would all love to read what you can do with this challenge. A PEACE of your life shared in love For we are all citizens of EARTH Today brings out the most GOOD And WILL prove MEN’s worth Maybe PEACE is back in fashion All around the EARTH If all this GOOD WILL happens For MEN it will be the first We know no PEACE some will say On EARTH or in the cosmos No GOOD are WILLing to give in To MEN who have lost most A PEACE of my heart still beating My bare feet touch the EARTH No GOOD is done WILL’s fleeting As MEN still hunger and thirst A PEACE of advice to help you As you walk across this EARTH GOOD, WILL be a powerful force If MEN in truth will search So how can there be PEACE again EARTH groans from the pain of war If GOOD people WILL do nothing MEN forget what life is for. Are PEACE and truth connected Like EARTH and man and soul Can GOOD come from those infected WILL MEN climb from this hole A song of PEACE still lingers And rings throughout the EARTH GOOD people are still WILLing MEN offering their hands to serve At PEACE now I hear them ringing Through the EARTH the sound of bells The GOOD Christmas is bringing WILL MEN their neighbors help Now one last PEACE I leave you Those who live upon the EARTH There was only one who was GOOD God’s WILL, not MEN, his birth Merry Christmas and Write on! |