Dakota Beacon

In years past, as the old year ended, The Passing Scene posted, with comment, Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” The same held true for Robert Burns, the Bard of Scotland, and his poem “Auld Lang Syne.”

This year, a lesser-known piece by Burns seems appropriate. Titled, obviously enough, “New Year’s Day” this little ditty renders a tip o’ the hat to Father Time.

This day, Time winds the exhausted chain

To run the twelvemonth’s length again:

I see, the old bald-pated fellow,

With ardent eyes, complexion sallow,

Adjust the unimpaired machine

To wheel the equal, dull routine…

First, what did yesternight deliver?

‘Another year has gone forever.’

And what is this day’s strong suggestion?

‘The passing moment’s all we rest on!’

Rest on – for what? What do we here?

Or why regard the passing year?

Will Time, amused with proverb’d lore,

Add to our date one minute more?

A few days may – a few years must –

Repose us in the silent dust.

Then is it wise to damp our bliss?

Yes – all such reasoning’s are amiss!

The voice of Nature loudly cries,

And many a message from the skies,

That something in us never dies:

That on his frail, uncertain state,

Hang matters of eternal weight:

That future life in worlds unknown

Must take its hue from this alone;

Whether as heavenly glory bright

Or dark as Misery’s woeful night.

Since then, my honored first of friends,

On this poor being all depends;

Let us the important now employ

And live as those who never die.

Though you, with days and honors crowned

Witness that filial circle round

(A sight life’s sorrows to repulse,

A sight pale Envy to convulse),

Others now claim chief regard;

Yourself, you wait your bright reward.

Father Time concludes one year and begins another. Burns appears to be saying that one day we will die, that the message from the skies bears witness to our immortal souls, that with us lie “matters of eternal weight,” and that we should “live as those who never die.”

Burns was not exactly “on fire for the Lord” to say the least as demonstrated by his life and lesser vulgar ditties. Nevertheless, his acute perception and depiction of human nature inspired his inner Muse. In this piece he shares with us his own sense of mortality pointing out that, for each of us, our days are numbered. How we use our days becomes his byword in this poem. Instructive to be sure.

With that said -- Happy New Year to one and all! Make the most of time.

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