Ian,
The events of the past week have reminded me of Longfellow's poem, "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day," which he wrote when he heard the bells ringing on Christmas Day in, I believe, 1860, and looked out the window and saw cannons firing, as the US North and South fought each other. [Note: The posting below says 1865, but I know that was not when he was inspired to write the poem, because the Civil War was over before then.]

I am posting here the lyrics that most people sing today, but I hope someone out there has the other two verses, one of which begins
"Then as from some foul dragon's mouth,
The cannon thundered from the South ... ."

I have these verses in a book somewhere, but I think I will post a lyric request in the mean time.
Genie

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1865


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.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The bellfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing, swinging on its way,
The world revolved from night to day.
A voice, a rhyme, a chant sublime
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 stong and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud & deep,
"God is not dead, nor does he sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."