My Traditional Toast to the New Year

December 31, 2010


Alfred Lord Tennyson's long poem "In Memoriam" always comes to mind as one year comes to an end and another begins. There is something very cleansing and celebratory about the ringing out and the ringing in.


"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 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 the 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."


Just a sampling, but, to me, it says it all.


Celebrate responsibly!