Thomas Hardy never missed an opportunity to point out the shortcomings of Christianity. In two couplets he brings his poetic sword down upon Christmas, the Church, and the horrors of war.
Written in 1924, as the title implies, and first published in 1928’s catchily titled Winter Words in Various Mo...
“Peace upon earth!” was said. We sing it
And pay a million priests to bring it.
After two thousand years of mass
We’ve got as far as poison-gas.
Thomas Hardy released Christmas: 1924 on Tue Jan 01 1924.