From 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!
From In Memorium by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is dying in the night;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
From Noel Christmas Eve by Robert Bridges
…
Tonight I can’t help thinking of those towers (the bell towers)
And I pray unto God for their souls and the souls of the world
That stand in towers and ring their bells tonight,
Arms lifted, clutching rattling ropes that race
Into dark above the mad and romping din
That to me heard afar is starry music
From Christmas Eve at Sea by John Masefield
…
The moon goes nodding down the west,
The drowsy helmsman strikes the bell;
Rex Judaorum natus est,
I charge you, brothers, sing Nowell, Nowell,
Rex Judaorum natus est
From Minstrels a Christmas Poem
by William Wordsworth
The minstrels played their Christmas tune
To-night beneath my cottage-eaves;
While, smitten by a lofty moon,
The encircling laurels, thick with leaves,
Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen,
That overpowered their natural green.
…
And who but listened?–till was paid
Respect to every inmate’s claim,
The greeting given, the music played
In honour of each household name,
Duly pronounced with lusty call,
And “Merry Christmas” wished to all.
From ‘A Christmas Carol‘ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Joy rises in me, like a summer’s morn:
Peace, Peace on Earth! The Prince of Peace is born!
(First posted on the Tithe Farm and Ladygrove Forum – Dec 25th 2003)
Happy Christmas, one and all.
happy xmas to all of abingdon and especially backstreeter for making my boring town seem interesting!
Happy Christmas to Backstreeter and all his readers – let’s hope 2017 is a good year for you all.
Happy Christmas all
Merry Christmas Backstreeter. Fingers crossed for 2017.
Season’s Greetings to Alastair, his good wife and all his Readers.
Very good ! I live on the estate and looking at the photos I think we deserve some new street signs !