GBMD - 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.

From: In Memorium by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892).

Happy New Year everyone - may your gardens and plots flourish in 2009, unlike my poor frosted Clematis in the photograph!

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day is hosted by Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home & Garden Chicago.

Comments

  1. Anonymous1 January 2009 at 10:39

    Good photo and a terrific poem!
    Happy New Year! xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan Tomlinson1 January 2009 at 13:22

    A lovely poem. Just what I needed today.

    A happy new year to you and your loved ones.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous1 January 2009 at 13:35

    Hi Veep, what a refreshing poem to begin anew, let us follow that excellent path! Happy new year to you and yours!
    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anna1 January 2009 at 13:47

    Every bit as apt as when the poem was written. A most happy new year to you too and happy gardening !

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gail1 January 2009 at 14:58

    Dear veep... I appreciate your clematis dressing for the season...he/she looks wonderful! Have a marvelous day and I wish you a fantastic New Year!
    Gail
    I do like the line that reads...never mind, I like them all!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous1 January 2009 at 15:19

    Happy New Year VP. I so love the line Ring out the wild bells - for me it is filled with a kind of abandon!
    Lovely photo and poem.
    K
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous1 January 2009 at 17:56

    Happy New Year to you too, frost and all! Regards Denise

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aunt Debbi/kurts mom1 January 2009 at 18:19

    Happy New Year VP. Love the poem.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Helen/patientgardener1 January 2009 at 19:20

    Happy New Year VP and best wishes for 2009. Boy did we have frost - two days solid.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Threadspider1 January 2009 at 19:58

    Happy New Year my friend. Catch up with you very soon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Frankie 1 January 2009 at 20:49

    Happy 2009 xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Rose2 January 2009 at 02:56

    What a perfect poem for today, VP! I was looking for a good New Year's poem, but couldn't find one. What were those websites thinking when they left out Tennyson??! If only all these wishes for the New Year would come true. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sweet Home and Garden Carolina2 January 2009 at 03:24

    Wonderful musing for New Year's. Wishes you and yours all the best in 2009.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lynn2 January 2009 at 12:51

    Great poem! It's kind of how I've felt this whole Christmas season. Letting go of all that has no purpose or meaning, and looking to the things of importance and significance.

    2009 can be a really great year! I'm looking forward to growing the newbies I've ordered this year ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. sharp green pencil3 January 2009 at 01:02

    I love old Tennyson!..being a Lincolnshire girl...Nice to hear from you..and I love Lupins too.Very Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Commonweeder3 January 2009 at 13:29

    Happy New Year! I love the Tennyson. I took a rather different tack - Gershwin! - but I think they are equally joyous.

    ReplyDelete
  17. VP4 January 2009 at 20:47

    Hi everyone - thanks for your positive comments on the poem. It's full of great sentiments for the New Year isn't it? I'm coming over to yours for a visit instead of commenting back here.

    Happy New Year everyone!

    ReplyDelete

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