Dakota Beacon

“Ring out the old, ring in the new” even today still rings true. We have once again completed our annual cycle and a new cycle begins.

Alfred Lord Tennyson penned a poem, popular among many and a favorite of some: “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” It exists as part of a larger work, “In Memoriam A.H.H.,” written in tribute to his dear friend and brother-in-law Arthur Henry Hallam upon his early and untimely death.

As with the passing of his friend, this piece superbly marks the passing of the old year. Tennyson captures the nostalgic fleeting year together with hope for the future. Everything that needs to be said he expresses. Tennyson’s words are worth sharing as we wistfully bid a heartfelt farewell to 2022 and hale the dawning of 2023.

Reflect on his words as we greet the New Year.

           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 ‘22 with mixed emotions -- joy and happiness. We only pass this way once. Here’s our chance to make amends, start over, and begin anew.

Make the most of it!

Happy New Year!

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).