What do the bells say? Listen! listen!
They shake the trees where the ice-gems glisten,
They call and they call across the snow,
But what they are saying I do not know.
What do the bells say? Hearken! hearken!
Up in the belfry the shadows darken,
Out of the shadows come angel wings,
And Angels teach the bell what it sings.
What do the bells say? Hear them, hear them,
They sing the song of the angels near them,
Over the snow-fields hear the chime
The song of the first first Christmas time.
Bravely the bells go ringing, ringing,
They set the heart of the whole world singing,—
Singing the sweet old song again:
“Peace on the earth — good-will to men.”

by E. Nesbit