Dakota Beacon

The old cycle is complete; a new one begins. “Ring out the old, ring in the new” recalls a tradition celebrated for centuries with the turning of the year.

            I have many favorite poems among them one by Alfred Lord Tennyson. “Ring Out, Wild Bells” is part of a larger work titled “In Memoriam A.H.H.” written in tribute to his dear friend and brother-in-law Arthur Henry Hallam upon his untimely death.

            The poem marks the passing of the year better than any other I know. Tennyson captures the nostalgic passing of the old year together with hope for the future. He says everything that needs to be said. His words are worth sharing as we bid a hearty farewell to 2011 and hail the dawning of 2012.

            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 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.

            With all the feeling and sentiment this poem conveys, we bid adieu to 2011 with mixed emotions -- joy and happiness.

            We only pass this way once. Here’s our chance to start the new year fresh making each moment count.

            Happy New Year!

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).