Happy New Year
My very lovely friend, Joan Williams, sent me a New Year’s Card, which contained the poem below.
I thought I would share it with you, as a way to wish you a Happy New Year.
Also, I know for most of us, bidding farewell to 2020 is quite welcomed; but I think we should remember that not all of the events of the year were sad. There were new births, new jobs, new homes, and new friends; and so much to be thankful for, like the so many people that have survived both illnesses and other hardships.
Regardless of your current circumstances, I pray you have a most blessed 2021; and may all of your surprises be good!
“Ring Out, Wild Bells”
“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.”
~ Alfred Lord Tennyson ~
