Suddenly Seymour

The Seymour Conservatory looked and felt particularly festive when I walked over last weekend.  Tacoma's Dickens Festival was taking place this weekend and the conservatory's costumed workers were hosting an afternoon tea. 

Revelers appreciated a performance of a bell choir.  

Longfellow's poem, "Christmas Bells"  always runs through my head on hearing  the tintinnabulation of the bells.  It's especially meaningful if you know Longfellow's story.  If not, click the link. 

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."

During this advent season and always, I wish you peace, love and plants (lots of plants.)

I still haven't decorated for the season but since I can visit the conservatory frequently, maybe that's good enough for this year.