Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Poem




Tennyson wrote this poem more than a century ago, and its words seem as timely as ever.  Wishing you joy and peace in the new year.




In Memoriam, [Ring out, wild bells]
by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light:
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
   For those that here we see no more;
   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
   And ancient forms of party strife;
   Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
   The faithless coldness of the times;
   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
   The civic slander and the spite;
   Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
   Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
   Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

9 comments:

  1. I love this post and the poem. I wish you would post more I miss your writing and thoughts and photography.

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  2. Thanks very much, Yolanda. My goal for the new year is to post much more often! I have been so busy with my own writing and with helping others write that I haven't been able to keep up with blogging for a few months. I'll be back much more in 2012, and I look forward to touching base with you more often in the New Year!

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  3. Love the poem...it is a fav of mine...thanks for reminding me..Happy New Year...

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  4. This is one of my absolute faves! Wishing you a wonderful New Year filled with good health, love and alot of laughter. Loads of hugs to you! xxoo

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  5. Very fitting; I love this poem. I wish you all that your heart desires in 2012!

    Keri

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  6. Just perfect Gigi.

    All the very best for 2012,xxx

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  7. The perfect post Gigi. Hope you had a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! I look forward to blogging along with you in 2012 and reading your well-written posts. XO

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  8. A beautiful reminder of what is important. Happy New Year to you! Love Linda x

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  9. Hi Gigi,
    what a sweet poem. I wish you and yours a wonderful new year, full of luck, love and inspirations.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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