Friday, December 29, 2017

POETRY FRIDAY: Ring Out, Wild Bells

 
My granddaughters want to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I find the following poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson most fitting to post at the end of 2017.

In Memoriam, [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.
 
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Heidi has the Poetry Friday Roundup at My Juicy Little Universe.
 
 
May 2018 bring better days ahead for all of us!
 
 

12 comments:

Brenda at FriendlyFairyTales said...

Yes, let's let the old sorrows go, and greet the wild bells with new plans and stiffened spine. I like this poem, and it's exhortation.

Kay said...

This is such a fitting poem for the end of the year--in particular this past difficult year. May we ring in much peace and goodness this new year. Happy New Year!

BJ Lee said...

Thanks for sharing, Elaine! I haven't read this one in quite awhile!

Mary Lee said...

Timeless.

Begone 2017. We'll be cleaning up after you for a long time.

Christie Wyman said...

Wonderful. I'm ready to ring out 2017 and ring in 2018 for sure! Happy New Year!!!!!

Renee LaTulippe said...

Let him go indeed, and good riddance! I don't think I've ever read this, but I love it. Thank you for this, Elaine! I feel my ennui dripping away already. :D

Linda B said...

Oh my, how did Tennyson know what we needed? This is wonderful, Elaine! "Ring in redress to all mankind!" Happy New Year!

Michelle Kogan said...

Thanks for this timeless poem, Elaine– it could have been written today, and speaks to issues of today.

"Ring in the thousand years of peace."

"The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,"

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Heidi Mordhorst said...

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.

Oh, what a fine choice for the new year, Elaine! May it be so.

Linda Mitchell said...

Oh, my. There is simply not one line of that poem that doesn't ring true for 2017. How on earth did he know? Poet or prophet? It's up to us to change things. I'm really looking forward to seeing a seachange of good in 2018. Happy New Year, Elaine. Keep those good words coming.

Whispers from the Ridge said...

"the year is going, let him go" I find these words sad but comforting. Thank you for sharing this poem to end the year so it can begin again. Happy New Year, Elaine!

Jane @ www.raincitylibrarian.ca said...

Oh please, yes please, let 2017 die! I'm ready to welcome in the new!