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Ring Out, Wild Bells

by habituallychic

12 . 31 . 11
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 thy 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, 1850

7 Comments
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  1. M.Lane December 31, 2011 | 3:36 pm

    What a timely and lovely piece. Thanks for sharing it.

    Happy New Year.

    ML

  2. Cheryl December 31, 2011 | 4:26 pm

    Such beautiful words. Thank you.
    Oh, and I so enjoyed yesterdays post! I will be working on a few of those…..

  3. Karena January 1, 2012 | 12:44 am

    Truly lovely Heather!!

    All the best in 2012!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

  4. LESAPEA MUSINGS January 1, 2012 | 7:12 am

    Thank you so much for your blog. Happiest New Year ever.

    Lisa x

  5. MJH Design Arts January 1, 2012 | 10:58 am

    Hi Heather, Happy New Year! The beauty in the photo looks like Natalie Wood….. ?? Mary

  6. mtbluestocking January 1, 2012 | 9:43 pm

    Bravo, bravo!

  7. Michele from Boston January 1, 2012 | 10:43 pm

    One word, Heather – Amen! Happy New Year to you. Much success in 2012. M.