"Ring out the old, ring in the new"

January 1, 2009


At the beginning of every new year, I reread the verses from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "in Memoriam". For me, and hopefully for you, it inspires our hopes for the new year.


I quote:


"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 who here we see no more,


Ring out the feud of rich and poor,


Ring in redress for all mankind.





Ring out the want, the care, the sin,


The faithless coldness of the times;


...





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.





A Happy New Year to All !!!!!!